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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $898 per month in Astana vs $686 in Semey, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Astana vs $1,092 in Semey, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,967 per month in Astana vs $1,498 in Semey, rent included.

Astana costs about 31% more than Semey, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Astana and Semey are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Semey 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.48 ₸4,019

$4.39 ₸2,080

93.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.04 ₸13.8K

$27.29 ₸12.9K

6.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 ₸2,715

$4.89 ₸2,317

17.18%

Cappuccino

$2.24 ₸1,063

$1.58 ₸748

41.77%

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

$0.92 ₸434

$0.92 ₸437

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸249

$0.56 ₸265

-5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸541

$1.20 ₸569

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₸1,383

$1.83 ₸866

59.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸458

$0.68 ₸320

42.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸217

$0.32 ₸150

43.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸664

$1.60 ₸757

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸809

$1.35 ₸640

26.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 ₸4,383

$8.84 ₸4,190

4.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₸2,298

$4.72 ₸2,238

2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 ₸3,444

$7.24 ₸3,431

0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸644

$1.28 ₸608

6.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₸883

$1.96 ₸931

-5.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ₸939

$1.98 ₸938

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₸911

$1.97 ₸933

-2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸262

$0.59 ₸280

-6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸192

$0.38 ₸179

7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸444

$0.94 ₸445

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸356

$0.77 ₸366

-2.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 ₸888

$2.57 ₸1,216

-27.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 ₸4,527

$6.82 ₸3,235

40.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₸453

$0.92 ₸437

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₸802

$1.58 ₸749

6.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸110

$0.21 ₸99.8

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.68 ₸6,960

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₸859

$0.94 ₸448

92.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸336

$0.63 ₸299

12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ₸2,030

$4.79 ₸2,272

-10.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.50 ₸236

-4.00%

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

$20.5K ₸9.7M

$19.8K ₸9.4M

3.72%

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

$24.7K ₸11.7M

$24.6K ₸11.7M

0.43%

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

$54.7 ₸25.9K

$50.8 ₸24.1K

7.72%

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

$8.12 ₸3,851

$8.86 ₸4,200

-8.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.01 ₸6,640

$12.85 ₸6,091

9.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.73 ₸23.6K

$33.68 ₸16.0K

47.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.15 ₸5,287

$10.02 ₸4,750

11.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 ₸2,483

$4.36 ₸2,066

20.18%

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

$239 ₸113.4K

$212 ₸100.4K

12.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,830 ₸2.3M

$4,962 ₸2.4M

-2.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 ₸26.7K

$57.2 ₸27.1K

-1.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.72 ₸16.9K

$35.47 ₸16.8K

0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 ₸41.5K

$88.3 ₸41.9K

-0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 ₸41.5K

$77.0 ₸36.5K

13.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₸223.6K

$309 ₸146.3K

52.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 ₸152.6K

$202 ₸95.8K

59.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 ₸400.1K

$529 ₸250.7K

59.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₸282.2K

$384 ₸182.1K

54.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,395 ₸661.4K

$1,036 ₸491.0K

34.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,027 ₸486.8K

$893 ₸423.1K

15.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$821 ₸389.2K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Semey: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in Astana versus $309 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $27.00 in Semey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $166 – 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: $898 in Astana, $686 in Semey – roughly 31% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,346 per month in Astana and $1,029 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Astana and $27.00 in Semey. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $686, than in Astana at $898. 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 $686 in Semey 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 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.