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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $898 per month in Astana vs $861 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,407 per month in Astana vs $1,266 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,916 per month in Astana vs $1,671 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Astana costs about 4% more than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Qapshaghay 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 ₸3,964

$7.93 ₸3,711

6.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.98 ₸13.6K

$19.36 ₸9,063

49.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.96 ₸2,791

$5.71 ₸2,673

4.38%

Cappuccino

$2.12 ₸991

$1.58 ₸740

34.18%

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

$0.98 ₸457

$0.84 ₸392

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₸270

$0.53 ₸248

9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸540

$0.94 ₸440

22.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₸1,378

$1.14 ₸534

157.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₸439

$1.27 ₸595

-25.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 ₸231

$0.54 ₸254

-9.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 ₸683

$1.47 ₸688

-0.68%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸809

$1.80 ₸843

-3.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 ₸4,369

$9.46 ₸4,428

-1.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₸2,268

$4.72 ₸2,210

2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 ₸3,387

$7.57 ₸3,542

-4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸610

$1.38 ₸648

-5.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₸841

$1.97 ₸921

-8.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 ₸939

$1.97 ₸924

2.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸886

$2.08 ₸971

-9.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸256

$0.61 ₸286

-9.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸188

$0.40 ₸186

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₸446

$1.31 ₸611

-27.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸353

$0.75 ₸349

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 ₸879

$1.49 ₸699

26.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.41 ₸3,935

$8.87 ₸4,149

-5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₸445

$0.85 ₸396

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₸755

$2.08 ₸973

-22.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸108

$0.14 ₸67.0

64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.42 ₸6,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.71 ₸800

$0.76 ₸355

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₸338

$0.67 ₸314

7.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 ₸2,038

$4.66 ₸2,183

-6.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 ₸241

$0.48 ₸223

6.25%

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

$20.7K ₸9.7M

$23.6K ₸11.0M

-12.18%

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

$25.6K ₸12.0M

$26.9K ₸12.6M

-5.06%

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

$53.1 ₸24.8K

$62.7 ₸29.3K

-15.38%

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

$8.06 ₸3,775

$8.81 ₸4,125

-8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ₸6,491

$13.75 ₸6,436

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 ₸23.6K

$33.80 ₸15.8K

49.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.04 ₸5,165

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 ₸2,438

$5.31 ₸2,486

-1.88%

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

$241 ₸112.7K

$260 ₸121.8K

-7.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,814 ₸2.3M

$4,887 ₸2.3M

-1.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ₸25.9K

$56.1 ₸26.2K

-1.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.42 ₸16.6K

$44.08 ₸20.6K

-19.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₸41.3K

$97.5 ₸45.6K

-9.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.9 ₸41.1K

$120 ₸56.2K

-26.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ₸224.1K

$385 ₸180.2K

24.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₸154.7K

$271 ₸126.7K

22.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 ₸394.4K

$644 ₸301.6K

30.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₸283.0K

$432 ₸202.1K

40.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,358 ₸635.8K

$1,050 ₸491.5K

29.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 ₸456.1K

$793 ₸371.3K

22.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 ₸349.2K

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Astana versus $398 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 in Astana versus $20 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $176 in Astana vs $185 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: $898 in Astana, $861 in Qapshaghay – roughly 4% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,346 per month in Astana and $1,291 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 5% 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 $861, than in Astana at $898. 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 $861 in Qapshaghay to $898 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.