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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Astana vs $1,049 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Astana vs $1,573 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,433 per month in Astana vs $2,097 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Astana costs about 3% more than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Astana 21% lower, Qapshaghay 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.99 ₸4,552

$11.05 ₸5,032

-9.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.61 ₸16.7K

$21.64 ₸9,858

69.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ₸3,496

$6.49 ₸2,959

18.18%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₸1,147

$1.69 ₸768

49.11%

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

$1.11 ₸505

$1.01 ₸460

9.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸289

$0.67 ₸305

-5.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₸650

$1.34 ₸612

6.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₸1,012

$1.27 ₸579

74.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₸588

$1.68 ₸767

-23.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.43 ₸198

32.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₸739

$2.03 ₸925

-20.20%

Eggs

$2.32 ₸1,055

$2.33 ₸1,062

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 ₸5,203

$11.93 ₸5,434

-4.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₸2,507

$6.69 ₸3,047

-17.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ₸4,607

$10.70 ₸4,873

-5.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₸777

$1.91 ₸871

-10.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,076

$2.39 ₸1,089

-1.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.90 ₸1,321

-23.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₸1,088

$2.66 ₸1,210

-10.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸342

$0.77 ₸349

-2.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₸209

$0.52 ₸238

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ₸685

$1.68 ₸764

-10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸396

$1.03 ₸468

-15.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$1.64 ₸746

34.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ₸4,842

$10.63 ₸4,844

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸596

$1.16 ₸528

12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₸1,103

$2.31 ₸1,050

4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸104

$0.15 ₸70.4

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.48 ₸7,509

$17.57 ₸8,003

-6.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₸1,205

$0.77 ₸351

242.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 ₸502

$0.64 ₸291

71.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 ₸2,883

$3.97 ₸1,807

59.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸266

$0.54 ₸248

7.41%

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

$23.4K ₸10.7M

$25.6K ₸11.7M

-8.60%

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

$30.7K ₸14.0M

$29.8K ₸13.6M

3.06%

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

$65.1 ₸29.7K

$87.6 ₸39.9K

-25.65%

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

$10.26 ₸4,672

$10.57 ₸4,816

-2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.10 ₸7,789

$17.40 ₸7,928

-1.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ₸26.1K

$41.84 ₸19.1K

36.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 ₸9,120

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₸2,798

$6.66 ₸3,035

-7.81%

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

$371 ₸168.9K

$142 ₸64.8K

160.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₸5.3M

$4,286 ₸2.0M

169.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₸30.2K

$89.7 ₸40.9K

-26.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 ₸20.8K

$46.64 ₸21.2K

-2.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₸52.5K

$139 ₸63.3K

-17.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.8K

$132 ₸60.2K

-4.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₸248.5K

$441 ₸200.8K

23.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₸172.4K

$302 ₸137.8K

25.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 ₸525.4K

$694 ₸316.3K

66.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ₸341.5K

$489 ₸222.8K

53.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,437 ₸654.8K

$974 ₸443.8K

47.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₸488.2K

$799 ₸363.8K

34.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 ₸388.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

20.61

-21.40%

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

Last update for Astana: August 29, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Astana versus $441 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 $37.00 in Astana versus $22.00 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Astana vs $243 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: $1,081 in Astana, $1,049 in Qapshaghay – roughly 3% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Astana and $1,573 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.

Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Astana and $142 in Qapshaghay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 $1,049, than in Astana at $1,081. 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 $1,049 in Qapshaghay to $1,081 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.