Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Pavlodar Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Pavlodar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Astana vs $731 in Pavlodar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Astana vs $1,141 in Pavlodar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,433 per month in Astana vs $1,551 in Pavlodar, rent included.

Astana costs about 48% more than Pavlodar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Pavlodar are more affordable than the global median – Astana 21% lower, Pavlodar 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.99 ₸4,552
$6.36 ₸2,898
57.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.61 ₸16.7K
$21.36 ₸9,728
71.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ₸3,496
$8.60 ₸3,919
-10.81%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₸1,147
$1.69 ₸770
49.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₸505
$1.12 ₸510
-0.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₸289
$0.47 ₸214
34.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ₸650
$1.06 ₸481
34.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₸1,012
$1.33 ₸606
66.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₸588
$1.00 ₸457
29.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ₸260
$0.36 ₸162
58.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₸739
$1.31 ₸599
23.66%
Eggs
$2.32 ₸1,055
$1.48 ₸672
56.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 ₸5,203
$5.21 ₸2,376
119.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₸2,507
$4.71 ₸2,147
16.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 ₸4,607
$6.85 ₸3,120
47.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 ₸777
$1.44 ₸656
18.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 ₸1,076
$1.64 ₸747
43.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ₸1,006
$1.77 ₸808
24.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 ₸1,088
$1.59 ₸724
50.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸342
$0.93 ₸423
-19.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ₸209
$0.70 ₸321
-34.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 ₸685
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ₸396
$0.74 ₸336
17.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 ₸1,006
$2.38 ₸1,083
-7.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 ₸4,842
$7.13 ₸3,249
49.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₸596
$1.32 ₸603
-0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₸1,103
$2.18 ₸994
11.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₸104
$0.33 ₸149
-30.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.48 ₸7,509
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 ₸1,205
$1.39 ₸633
89.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 ₸502
$1.12 ₸509
-1.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 ₸2,883
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 ₸266
$0.61 ₸276
-4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K ₸10.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K ₸14.0M
$25.0K ₸11.4M
22.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.1 ₸29.7K
$65.7 ₸29.9K
-0.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26 ₸4,672
$10.68 ₸4,866
-3.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.10 ₸7,789
$25.93 ₸11.8K
-34.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 ₸26.1K
$31.58 ₸14.4K
81.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.02 ₸9,120
$11.01 ₸5,016
81.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14 ₸2,798
$4.42 ₸2,012
38.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₸168.9K
$129 ₸58.9K
186.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ₸5.3M
$4,281 ₸2.0M
169.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4 ₸30.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.68 ₸20.8K
$24.54 ₸11.2K
86.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₸52.5K
$74.4 ₸33.9K
54.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 ₸57.8K
$99.4 ₸45.3K
27.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$545 ₸248.5K
$272 ₸123.8K
100.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 ₸172.4K
$213 ₸97.0K
77.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,153 ₸525.4K
$536 ₸244.4K
114.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$750 ₸341.5K
$427 ₸194.6K
75.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,437 ₸654.8K
$1,065 ₸485.0K
35.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 ₸488.2K
$858 ₸391.0K
24.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astana
Pavlodar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$853 ₸388.5K
$695 ₸316.7K
22.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.2
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Astana: August 29, 2026

Last update for Pavlodar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Astana versus $272 in Pavlodar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Astana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Astana versus $21.00 in Pavlodar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $155 – making Pavlodar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Astana vs Pavlodar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Astana and in Pavlodar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,081 in Astana, $731 in Pavlodar – roughly 48% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Astana compared to Pavlodar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Astana and $1,096 in Pavlodar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Astana and Pavlodar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pavlodar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Astana and $21.00 in Pavlodar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pavlodar, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Astana at $1,081. In Pavlodar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Astana and Pavlodar?
It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $731 in Pavlodar to $1,081 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Astana or Pavlodar safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Astana and Pavlodar?
If budget matters most, go with Pavlodar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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