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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,124 per month in Astana vs $628 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,819 per month in Astana vs $1,007 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Astana vs $1,385 in Taraz, rent included.

Astana costs about 79% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Astana 18% lower, Taraz 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.49 ₸4,729

$8.60 ₸3,875

21.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 ₸16.8K

$22.04 ₸9,933

68.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 ₸3,426

$6.47 ₸2,915

17.47%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₸1,152

$1.57 ₸709

63.06%

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

$1.13 ₸507

$0.91 ₸408

24.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.46 ₸206

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₸580

$1.08 ₸485

19.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₸979

$1.78 ₸803

21.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₸564

$1.09 ₸490

14.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸259

$0.41 ₸183

39.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₸819

$1.34 ₸604

35.82%

Eggs

$2.23 ₸1,004

$1.73 ₸778

28.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 ₸5,197

$10.19 ₸4,592

13.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 ₸2,559

$5.16 ₸2,323

10.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ₸4,746

$8.45 ₸3,810

24.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₸812

$1.20 ₸541

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ₸1,108

$2.18 ₸983

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ₸1,000

$2.57 ₸1,160

-13.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 ₸1,074

$1.41 ₸634

68.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸338

$0.51 ₸232

47.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₸202

$0.40 ₸180

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 ₸687

$0.96 ₸434

58.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₸388

$0.78 ₸352

10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₸982

$2.49 ₸1,120

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$4.39 ₸1,978

151.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸598

$1.04 ₸467

27.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,072

$1.57 ₸710

51.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.20 ₸89.9

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.49 ₸7,431

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ₸1,164

$0.89 ₸401

189.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 ₸501

$0.38 ₸170

192.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ₸2,923

$3.84 ₸1,731

69.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₸293

$0.64 ₸288

1.56%

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

$24.2K ₸10.9M

$27.7K ₸12.5M

-12.50%

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

$29.9K ₸13.5M

$27.4K ₸12.3M

9.21%

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

$66.7 ₸30.0K

$46.57 ₸21.0K

43.12%

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

$9.82 ₸4,423

$8.57 ₸3,861

14.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.73 ₸7,991

$8.84 ₸3,985

100.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₸26.1K

$36.31 ₸16.4K

59.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ₸9,190

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 ₸2,817

$4.35 ₸1,960

43.68%

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

$376 ₸169.5K

$57.6 ₸25.9K

553.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 ₸30.2K

$26.34 ₸11.9K

154.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.46 ₸20.5K

$33.85 ₸15.3K

34.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₸52.6K

$111 ₸50.0K

5.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.4K

$52.9 ₸23.9K

140.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 ₸253.3K

$268 ₸120.8K

109.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 ₸171.4K

$112 ₸50.3K

240.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,170 ₸527.0K

$437 ₸196.9K

167.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₸349.2K

$200 ₸90.2K

287.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,499 ₸675.6K

$836 ₸376.7K

79.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 ₸502.8K

$598 ₸269.5K

86.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$852 ₸383.8K

$276 ₸124.3K

208.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

17.83

-9.14%

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

Last update for Astana: September 7, 2026

Last update for Taraz: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $562 in Astana versus $268 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 209% 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 $37.00 in Astana versus $22.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $178 – 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: $1,124 in Astana, $628 in Taraz – roughly 79% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,687 per month in Astana and $942 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 $37.00 in Astana and $22.00 in Taraz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taraz, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Astana at $1,124. In Taraz 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 $628 in Taraz to $1,124 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.