Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Qapshaghay Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Qapshaghay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $865 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $1,292 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $1,718 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Astana costs about 5% more than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Qapshaghay 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 ₸3,936

$7.97 ₸3,871

1.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.85 ₸14.0K

$19.91 ₸9,671

44.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 ₸2,797

$5.79 ₸2,812

-0.52%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,066

$1.57 ₸765

39.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₸444

$0.89 ₸433

2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸259

$0.54 ₸262

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸554

$0.94 ₸456

21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,432

$1.20 ₸583

145.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₸492

$1.32 ₸640

-23.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸245

$0.56 ₸271

-10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸680

$1.49 ₸726

-6.04%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸868

$1.73 ₸842

3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 ₸4,537

$9.34 ₸4,536

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₸2,300

$4.53 ₸2,202

4.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₸3,381

$7.70 ₸3,742

-9.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸661

$1.40 ₸678

-2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸907

$1.97 ₸958

-5.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸935

$1.96 ₸951

-2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸959

$2.06 ₸1,001

-4.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸283

$0.59 ₸285

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸183

$0.40 ₸194

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸495

$1.25 ₸609

-18.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸364

$0.73 ₸356

2.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 ₸878

$1.48 ₸720

22.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ₸4,440

$10.41 ₸5,055

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸497

$0.90 ₸438

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₸823

$2.14 ₸1,041

-20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸102

$0.17 ₸80.9

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,075

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₸868

$0.70 ₸341

155.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸345

$0.63 ₸304

12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 ₸2,191

$4.58 ₸2,225

-1.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸226

$0.51 ₸249

-7.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K ₸10.1M

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-10.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.7K ₸12.0M

$27.1K ₸13.1M

-8.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.9 ₸26.2K

$63.6 ₸30.9K

-15.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.00 ₸3,888

$8.60 ₸4,178

-6.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,751

$13.69 ₸6,648

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 ₸24.2K

$32.65 ₸15.9K

52.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,419

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₸2,572

$5.34 ₸2,594

-0.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$238 ₸115.8K

$261 ₸126.6K

-8.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,790 ₸2.3M

$4,803 ₸2.3M

-0.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₸27.1K

$55.6 ₸27.0K

0.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₸16.9K

$44.32 ₸21.5K

-21.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 ₸43.1K

$96.8 ₸47.0K

-8.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₸41.8K

$122 ₸59.4K

-29.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₸232.1K

$392 ₸190.3K

22.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸159.2K

$271 ₸131.7K

20.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 ₸412.2K

$642 ₸312.1K

32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₸290.3K

$440 ₸214.0K

35.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₸669.5K

$933 ₸453.4K

47.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸482.3K

$850 ₸412.8K

16.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 ₸387.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

18.39

-12.34%

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

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana versus $392 in Qapshaghay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Astana versus $20.00 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Astana vs $188 in Qapshaghay – so Astana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $912 in Astana, $865 in Qapshaghay – roughly 5% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 per month in Astana and $1,298 in Qapshaghay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qapshaghay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Astana and $20.00 in Qapshaghay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qapshaghay, where all-in costs run around $865, than in Astana at $912. In Qapshaghay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $865 in Qapshaghay to $912 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Qapshaghay. 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.