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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Atyrau vs $789 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,680 per month in Atyrau vs $1,295 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,345 per month in Atyrau vs $1,802 in Aktau, rent included.

Atyrau costs about 29% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Atyrau and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Atyrau 26% lower, Aktau 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93 ₸4,488
$11.07 ₸5,002
-10.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.12 ₸16.3K
$44.02 ₸19.9K
-17.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 ₸3,173
$9.65 ₸4,359
-27.25%
Cappuccino
$2.10 ₸947
$2.58 ₸1,166
-18.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₸519
$0.77 ₸348
49.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₸357
$0.49 ₸221
61.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 ₸750
$1.28 ₸580
29.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₸932
$1.56 ₸705
32.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ₸781
$1.47 ₸663
17.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 ₸214
$0.43 ₸196
9.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 ₸914
$1.91 ₸863
5.76%
Eggs
$1.53 ₸690
$1.75 ₸790
-12.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.04 ₸4,989
$10.12 ₸4,573
9.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.32 ₸3,760
$4.36 ₸1,972
90.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 ₸3,599
$8.77 ₸3,960
-9.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸814
$1.45 ₸653
24.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 ₸1,163
$2.27 ₸1,026
13.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ₸1,025
$2.39 ₸1,078
-5.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 ₸801
$2.85 ₸1,289
-37.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ₸284
$0.61 ₸278
3.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 ₸201
$0.57 ₸256
-22.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ₸583
$1.47 ₸663
-12.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸447
$0.99 ₸446
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 ₸1,076
$2.70 ₸1,219
-11.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.61 ₸4,342
$9.46 ₸4,275
1.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₸592
$0.71 ₸323
84.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₸630
$0.86 ₸389
62.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₸143
$0.18 ₸82.5
77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.11 ₸9,991
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ₸684
$1.13 ₸510
33.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ₸293
$0.68 ₸306
-4.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.55 ₸2,959
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.62 ₸279
$0.58 ₸263
6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K ₸8.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K ₸13.3M
$30.7K ₸13.9M
-4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.3 ₸23.6K
$45.97 ₸20.8K
13.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.87 ₸4,911
$8.08 ₸3,650
34.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.13 ₸6,383
$10.57 ₸4,777
33.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₸29.3K
$35.93 ₸16.2K
80.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.74 ₸4,400
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05 ₸2,731
$3.11 ₸1,405
94.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 ₸131.5K
$144 ₸65.0K
102.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,377 ₸1.5M
$2,633 ₸1.2M
28.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.52 ₸14.7K
$67.2 ₸30.3K
-51.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.65 ₸19.7K
$40.31 ₸18.2K
8.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 ₸40.6K
$70.3 ₸31.8K
27.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 ₸39.4K
$89.3 ₸40.4K
-2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 ₸234.5K
$319 ₸144.3K
62.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 ₸153.5K
$193 ₸87.1K
76.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 ₸496.8K
$539 ₸243.5K
103.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 ₸353.3K
$388 ₸175.2K
101.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$958 ₸433.0K
$779 ₸352.0K
23.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$733 ₸331.3K
$630 ₸284.7K
16.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$736 ₸332.6K
$559 ₸252.4K
31.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
14
114.29%

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

Last update for Atyrau: September 8, 2026

Last update for Aktau: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Atyrau versus $319 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 32% 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 $36.00 in Atyrau versus $44.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Atyrau vs $202 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 29% 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 and in Aktau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,522 per month in Atyrau and $1,183 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 and in Aktau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Atyrau and $44.00 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 in Aktau?
Groceries cost about 12% 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 $1,000/month in Atyrau or in Aktau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $789, than in Atyrau at $1,014. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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 to 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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