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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in Atyrau vs $702 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,505 per month in Atyrau vs $1,160 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Atyrau vs $1,619 in Aktau, rent included.

Atyrau costs about 25% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Atyrau and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Atyrau 34% lower, Aktau 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.02 ₸4,170
$9.63 ₸4,455
-6.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ₸14.9K
$38.39 ₸17.7K
-16.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 ₸2,864
$8.84 ₸4,085
-29.98%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ₸836
$2.27 ₸1,048
-20.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 ₸520
$0.56 ₸257
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₸355
$0.43 ₸200
79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 ₸687
$1.19 ₸551
24.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₸868
$1.38 ₸639
36.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 ₸686
$1.20 ₸557
23.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 ₸172
$0.39 ₸179
-5.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ₸731
$1.69 ₸782
-6.51%
Eggs
$1.48 ₸684
$1.37 ₸631
8.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 ₸4,208
$8.90 ₸4,117
2.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.46 ₸3,449
$3.89 ₸1,800
91.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.19 ₸3,324
$7.86 ₸3,634
-8.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 ₸676
$1.29 ₸597
13.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 ₸1,103
$1.98 ₸916
20.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₸893
$2.14 ₸991
-9.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ₸671
$2.52 ₸1,166
-42.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸269
$0.58 ₸268
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₸170
$0.51 ₸236
-27.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ₸528
$1.35 ₸626
-15.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₸601
$0.81 ₸376
60.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10 ₸969
$2.40 ₸1,108
-12.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.22 ₸4,262
$9.04 ₸4,179
1.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 ₸566
$0.63 ₸290
93.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₸570
$0.76 ₸352
61.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₸129
$0.14 ₸66.8
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 ₸8,933
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.40 ₸645
$1.03 ₸475
35.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₸116
$0.59 ₸271
-57.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.01 ₸2,778
$4.77 ₸2,206
26.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 ₸228
$0.47 ₸215
4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8K ₸7.3M
$20.5K ₸9.5M
-22.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K ₸10.9M
$24.5K ₸11.3M
-3.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.89 ₸21.7K
$39.58 ₸18.3K
18.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.41 ₸4,350
$7.58 ₸3,505
24.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.79 ₸5,913
$9.75 ₸4,507
31.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.6 ₸27.1K
$31.97 ₸14.8K
83.39%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40 ₸2,499
$2.69 ₸1,242
100.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 ₸117.6K
$128 ₸59.1K
99.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,045 ₸1.4M
$2,304 ₸1.1M
32.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.31 ₸13.6K
$58.4 ₸27.0K
-49.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 ₸18.2K
$34.63 ₸16.0K
13.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₸36.8K
$64.8 ₸30.0K
22.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₸36.5K
$79.7 ₸36.8K
-0.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₸207.5K
$251 ₸116.3K
78.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 ₸136.8K
$179 ₸82.7K
65.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$975 ₸450.9K
$446 ₸206.2K
118.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₸363.5K
$373 ₸172.2K
111.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$913 ₸422.0K
$779 ₸360.2K
17.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$689 ₸318.5K
$617 ₸285.3K
11.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 ₸321.5K
$548 ₸253.2K
26.99%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Aktau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Atyrau versus $251 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 27% 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 $32.00 in Atyrau versus $38.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Atyrau vs $178 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 25% 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 $1,321 per month in Atyrau and $1,052 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 $32.00 in Atyrau and $38.00 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 14% 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 Aktau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Atyrau at $880. 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 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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