Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Taraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Taraz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $892 per month in Astana vs $555 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Astana vs $888 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,961 per month in Astana vs $1,221 in Taraz, rent included.

Astana costs about 61% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Astana and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Taraz 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 ₸3,895

$5.82 ₸2,739

42.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.74 ₸14.0K

$19.52 ₸9,191

52.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ₸2,701

$5.95 ₸2,802

-3.53%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₸1,046

$1.36 ₸639

63.24%

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

$0.91 ₸430

$0.76 ₸360

19.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸266

$0.38 ₸177

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸558

$1.20 ₸563

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,416

$1.60 ₸755

88.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸457

$0.94 ₸443

3.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸219

$0.38 ₸178

21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₸651

$1.14 ₸536

21.05%

Eggs

$1.69 ₸795

$1.73 ₸816

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 ₸4,467

$8.78 ₸4,134

8.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,273

$4.56 ₸2,148

5.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₸3,286

$7.29 ₸3,432

-4.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₸644

$1.30 ₸612

5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸864

$1.89 ₸891

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸896

$1.93 ₸907

-1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₸887

$1.88 ₸885

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸262

$0.54 ₸255

3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸176

$0.41 ₸191

-9.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸450

$0.99 ₸467

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸349

$0.76 ₸360

-2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 ₸897

$1.98 ₸930

-4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.54 ₸4,489

$4.11 ₸1,934

132.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸456

$0.92 ₸434

5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₸790

$1.59 ₸747

5.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸109

$0.18 ₸84.6

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 ₸6,966

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₸845

$0.77 ₸360

133.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸334

$0.38 ₸180

86.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 ₸2,031

$3.44 ₸1,619

25.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 ₸239

$0.45 ₸213

13.33%

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

$20.3K ₸9.5M

0.06%

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

$25.2K ₸11.9M

$21.3K ₸10.0M

18.50%

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

$53.3 ₸25.1K

$50.1 ₸23.6K

6.27%

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

$8.34 ₸3,924

$7.87 ₸3,707

5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,448

$7.73 ₸3,641

77.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₸24.0K

$32.02 ₸15.1K

59.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ₸5,158

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₸2,458

$3.84 ₸1,806

35.94%

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

$239 ₸112.5K

$211 ₸99.1K

13.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,800 ₸2.3M

$4,944 ₸2.3M

-2.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 ₸27.0K

$23.76 ₸11.2K

141.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 ₸16.5K

$38.49 ₸18.1K

-8.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₸41.2K

$98.6 ₸46.4K

-11.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 ₸41.3K

$58.0 ₸27.3K

51.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ₸219.8K

$237 ₸111.8K

96.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₸151.9K

$98.7 ₸46.5K

226.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₸405.0K

$398 ₸187.3K

116.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₸276.4K

$179 ₸84.1K

228.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₸663.3K

$812 ₸382.5K

73.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,013 ₸477.1K

$563 ₸265.2K

79.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$845 ₸397.9K

$264 ₸124.4K

219.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

16.25

-0.80%

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

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Last update for Taraz: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Astana versus $237 in Taraz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 220% higher in Astana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Astana versus $20.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $162 – making Taraz 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 Taraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $892 in Astana, $555 in Taraz – roughly 61% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Astana and $832 in Taraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taraz, 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 $30.00 in Astana and $20.00 in Taraz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $892 in Astana and $555 in Taraz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $555 in Taraz to $892 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 Taraz. 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.