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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $553 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $886 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $1,220 in Taraz, rent included.

Astana costs about 65% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Astana and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Taraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 ₸3,971

$5.89 ₸2,885

37.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.85 ₸14.1K

$19.45 ₸9,534

48.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 ₸2,822

$5.71 ₸2,799

0.88%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,075

$1.35 ₸663

62.22%

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

$0.91 ₸448

$0.79 ₸388

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸261

$0.37 ₸184

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸559

$1.16 ₸567

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,444

$1.58 ₸772

86.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₸496

$1.01 ₸494

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸247

$0.38 ₸185

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸686

$1.14 ₸557

22.81%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸876

$1.73 ₸850

3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 ₸4,577

$8.55 ₸4,189

9.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₸2,320

$4.61 ₸2,258

2.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₸3,410

$7.18 ₸3,519

-3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸667

$1.31 ₸641

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸915

$1.88 ₸923

-0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸943

$1.90 ₸931

1.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸968

$1.88 ₸922

4.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸286

$0.55 ₸268

5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸185

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸499

$0.92 ₸452

10.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸367

$0.71 ₸349

5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 ₸885

$1.97 ₸966

-8.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ₸4,479

$3.97 ₸1,945

130.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸501

$1.01 ₸494

0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₸831

$1.52 ₸744

11.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸103

$0.16 ₸80.2

31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₸876

$0.75 ₸368

138.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸348

$0.41 ₸202

73.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 ₸2,211

$3.43 ₸1,680

31.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.45 ₸221

4.44%

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

$20.7K ₸10.2M

$20.0K ₸9.8M

3.63%

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

$24.7K ₸12.1M

$21.7K ₸10.6M

14.28%

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

$53.9 ₸26.4K

$50.8 ₸24.9K

6.16%

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

$8.00 ₸3,922

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,810

$7.83 ₸3,837

77.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 ₸24.4K

$32.35 ₸15.9K

54.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,467

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₸2,595

$3.84 ₸1,881

38.02%

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

$238 ₸116.8K

$208 ₸102.0K

14.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,790 ₸2.3M

$4,932 ₸2.4M

-2.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₸27.3K

$23.71 ₸11.6K

135.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₸17.1K

$38.49 ₸18.9K

-9.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 ₸43.5K

$99.3 ₸48.7K

-10.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₸42.2K

$59.1 ₸28.9K

45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₸234.2K

$236 ₸115.8K

102.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸160.6K

$99.6 ₸48.8K

229.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 ₸415.8K

$390 ₸191.2K

117.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₸292.9K

$173 ₸84.6K

246.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₸675.4K

$783 ₸383.5K

76.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸486.5K

$558 ₸273.6K

77.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 ₸391.2K

$252 ₸123.5K

216.73%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Taraz: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana versus $236 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 217% 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $19.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $161 – 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: $912 in Astana, $553 in Taraz – roughly 65% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 per month in Astana and $829 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 $29.00 in Astana and $19.00 in Taraz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $553, than in Astana at $912. 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 $553 in Taraz to $912 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.