Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Aktau Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Aktau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $889 per month in Atyrau vs $716 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Atyrau vs $1,187 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,145 per month in Atyrau vs $1,657 in Aktau, rent included.

Atyrau costs about 24% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Atyrau and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Atyrau 34% lower, Aktau 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75 ₸4,273
$10.02 ₸4,892
-12.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.53 ₸15.9K
$39.56 ₸19.3K
-17.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 ₸3,034
$8.90 ₸4,348
-30.22%
Cappuccino
$1.90 ₸930
$2.26 ₸1,103
-15.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 ₸550
$0.55 ₸271
105.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₸353
$0.44 ₸215
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 ₸737
$1.20 ₸585
25.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₸884
$1.34 ₸656
35.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ₸708
$1.20 ₸585
20.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.40 ₸195
$0.39 ₸189
2.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 ₸777
$1.71 ₸833
-7.02%
Eggs
$1.44 ₸701
$1.44 ₸701
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 ₸4,368
$8.88 ₸4,336
0.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 ₸3,757
$3.90 ₸1,902
97.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.98 ₸3,407
$7.60 ₸3,713
-8.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 ₸714
$1.34 ₸655
8.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 ₸1,136
$1.99 ₸972
17.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ₸996
$2.10 ₸1,026
-2.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₸734
$2.44 ₸1,190
-38.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 ₸288
$0.58 ₸286
1.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₸177
$0.51 ₸247
-29.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₸532
$1.29 ₸631
-15.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₸603
$0.85 ₸417
44.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 ₸1,070
$2.41 ₸1,178
-9.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.70 ₸4,247
$8.97 ₸4,382
-3.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₸588
$0.65 ₸316
84.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₸625
$0.77 ₸377
66.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₸135
$0.13 ₸62.1
115.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.82 ₸9,680
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.40 ₸683
$0.93 ₸456
50.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₸111
$0.62 ₸301
-62.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.95 ₸2,907
$4.62 ₸2,256
28.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸235
$0.50 ₸244
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.7K ₸7.7M
$20.3K ₸9.9M
-22.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K ₸11.3M
$24.7K ₸12.1M
-5.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.02 ₸22.5K
$40.96 ₸20.0K
12.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.36 ₸4,572
$7.78 ₸3,801
20.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.73 ₸6,220
$9.42 ₸4,601
35.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.2 ₸28.4K
$32.76 ₸16.0K
77.75%
Cinema Ticket
$5.43 ₸2,650
$2.82 ₸1,376
92.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$256 ₸125.3K
$125 ₸60.9K
105.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,021 ₸1.5M
$2,306 ₸1.1M
31.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.88 ₸14.1K
$58.6 ₸28.6K
-50.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.76 ₸19.4K
$34.88 ₸17.0K
13.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 ₸38.8K
$63.8 ₸31.1K
24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₸38.0K
$77.3 ₸37.8K
0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$463 ₸226.1K
$253 ₸123.6K
82.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸148.0K
$181 ₸88.5K
67.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 ₸473.1K
$448 ₸219.0K
115.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 ₸382.1K
$362 ₸176.7K
116.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$835 ₸407.9K
$775 ₸378.3K
7.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$652 ₸318.3K
$620 ₸302.8K
5.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$669 ₸326.9K
$521 ₸254.5K
28.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
8
275.00%

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

Last update for Atyrau: June 9, 2026

Last update for Aktau: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Atyrau versus $253 in Aktau. 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 28% higher in Atyrau, 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 $33.00 in Atyrau versus $40.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Atyrau vs $177 in Aktau – so Aktau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Atyrau vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Atyrau or Aktau?
Atyrau costs about 24% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Atyrau vs Aktau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,334 per month in Atyrau and $1,075 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Atyrau or Aktau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Atyrau vs Aktau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Atyrau and $40.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Atyrau or Aktau?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Atyrau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Atyrau or Aktau?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $889 in Atyrau and $716 in Aktau, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Aktau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Atyrau compared to Aktau?
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.
Should I move to Atyrau or Aktau?
If budget matters most, go with Aktau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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