Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Semey Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Semey

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,119 per month in Astana vs $707 in Semey, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Astana vs $1,146 in Semey, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Astana vs $1,584 in Semey, rent included.

Astana costs about 58% more than Semey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Semey are more affordable than the global median – Astana 18% lower, Semey 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.74 ₸4,814

$4.97 ₸2,228

116.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.35 ₸16.7K

$22.56 ₸10.1K

65.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ₸3,523

$5.45 ₸2,443

44.22%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₸1,178

$1.69 ₸756

55.62%

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

$1.10 ₸492

$0.80 ₸356

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₸297

$0.52 ₸233

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸611

$0.93 ₸415

46.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₸999

$1.41 ₸633

58.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₸598

$1.05 ₸469

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ₸276

$0.33 ₸150

87.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₸793

$1.90 ₸851

-6.84%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,032

$1.51 ₸679

52.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.16 ₸5,450

$5.44 ₸2,440

123.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 ₸2,731

$3.78 ₸1,695

61.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.47 ₸4,695

$5.28 ₸2,365

98.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₸807

$1.26 ₸566

42.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ₸1,105

$1.68 ₸755

46.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₸1,045

$1.74 ₸780

33.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₸1,063

$1.69 ₸758

40.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ₸326

$0.38 ₸172

92.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ₸213

$0.57 ₸254

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 ₸668

$1.27 ₸571

17.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸411

$0.97 ₸436

-5.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 ₸1,037

$2.47 ₸1,108

-6.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 ₸4,972

$7.10 ₸3,184

56.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₸626

$1.37 ₸616

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₸1,080

$2.18 ₸978

10.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₸117

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.78 ₸7,521

$16.98 ₸7,613

-1.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₸1,208

$1.37 ₸614

96.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 ₸508

$1.18 ₸529

-4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ₸3,043

$6.69 ₸2,998

1.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₸292

$0.68 ₸304

-4.41%

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

$24.2K ₸10.9M

0.08%

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

$30.9K ₸13.8M

$26.0K ₸11.7M

18.53%

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

$67.5 ₸30.2K

$33.94 ₸15.2K

98.76%

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

$10.06 ₸4,511

$8.78 ₸3,936

14.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.65 ₸8,362

$18.96 ₸8,501

-1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ₸26.5K

$42.68 ₸19.1K

38.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.49 ₸9,186

$11.09 ₸4,972

84.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 ₸2,744

$4.35 ₸1,950

40.69%

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

$375 ₸168.3K

$133 ₸59.4K

183.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.2M

$4,381 ₸2.0M

165.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.4 ₸31.6K

$28.67 ₸12.9K

145.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.07 ₸20.7K

$25.42 ₸11.4K

81.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₸54.5K

$102 ₸45.5K

19.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$75.2 ₸33.7K

75.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$565 ₸253.1K

$353 ₸158.1K

60.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₸175.2K

$234 ₸104.7K

67.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 ₸514.5K

$637 ₸285.7K

80.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$784 ₸351.3K

$484 ₸217.1K

61.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 ₸683.1K

$1,235 ₸553.6K

23.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₸507.5K

$822 ₸368.4K

37.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$885 ₸396.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.5

19.25

-19.48%

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

Last update for Astana: September 12, 2026

Last update for Semey: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $565 in Astana versus $353 in Semey. 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 $23.00 in Semey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $155 – making Semey 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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,119 in Astana, $707 in Semey – roughly 58% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,678 per month in Astana and $1,061 in Semey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $375 per month in Astana and $133 in Semey. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semey, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Astana at $1,119. In Semey 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 $707 in Semey to $1,119 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 Semey. 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.