Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Atyrau: $996 a month against $1,568 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Atyrau
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$996
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,568
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Atyrau and in Cape Town

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Atyrau and in Cape Town actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $996 per month in Atyrau vs $1,568 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Atyrau $996
  • Cape Town $1,568

A couple spends around $1,658 per month in Atyrau vs $2,438 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Atyrau $1,658
  • Cape Town $2,438

A family of three spends $2,320 per month in Atyrau vs $3,307 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Atyrau $2,320
  • Cape Town $3,307

Atyrau is about 36% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Atyrau sits 26% below the global median, while Cape Town is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.56 ₸4,335
$11.78 R 194
-18.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.66 ₸16.6K
$46.55 R 768
-21.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.40 ₸3,355
$5.96 R 98.4
24.16%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ₸998
$2.47 R 40.80
-10.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 ₸514
$1.33 R 21.91
-15.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₸353
$1.03 R 16.99
-24.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 ₸726
$3.01 R 49.72
-46.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₸961
$3.66 R 60.4
-42.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ₸749
$1.39 R 22.96
18.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸199
$1.19 R 19.60
-63.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 ₸903
$2.11 R 34.84
-5.69%
Eggs
$1.53 ₸696
$3.01 R 49.58
-49.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.89 ₸4,938
$8.96 R 148
21.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.68 ₸3,937
$6.65 R 110
30.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.82 ₸3,546
$9.29 R 153
-15.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 ₸810
$1.83 R 30.13
-2.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 ₸1,180
$1.90 R 31.31
36.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ₸1,003
$1.75 R 28.83
26.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 ₸814
$2.09 R 34.41
-14.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ₸282
$1.55 R 25.64
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₸187
$1.49 R 24.53
-72.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ₸585
$1.30 R 21.41
-0.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸408
$1.16 R 19.19
-22.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 ₸1,062
$3.71 R 61.2
-36.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.14 ₸4,143
$6.06 R 100
50.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₸595
$1.39 R 22.85
-5.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 ₸627
$2.20 R 36.32
-37.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₸155
$1.51 R 24.98
-77.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.63 ₸9,807
$61.0 R 1,006
-64.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 ₸688
$0.63 R 10.33
141.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₸323
$1.53 R 25.29
-53.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.42 ₸2,913
$4.81 R 79.4
33.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.62 ₸283
$1.58 R 26.08
-60.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K ₸7.9M
$35.5K R 585.7K
-51.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K ₸13.4M
$31.7K R 523.8K
-7.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.8 ₸23.9K
$116 R 1,920
-54.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 ₸4,951
$28.37 R 468
-61.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.03 ₸6,360
$40.69 R 671
-65.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.9 ₸29.0K
$48.85 R 806
30.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.67 ₸4,384
$11.13 R 184
-13.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 ₸2,846
$8.83 R 146
-28.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 ₸129.1K
$261 R 4,314
8.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,471 ₸1.6M
$6,702 R 110.6K
-48.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.19 ₸15.0K
$55.4 R 914
-40.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.44 ₸19.7K
$32.27 R 532
34.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 ₸39.0K
$118 R 1,939
-26.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 ₸39.2K
$107 R 1,766
-19.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$504 ₸228.6K
$1,015 R 16.7K
-50.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ₸151.3K
$715 R 11.8K
-53.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 ₸508.4K
$1,801 R 29.7K
-37.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$775 ₸351.5K
$1,330 R 22.0K
-41.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$941 ₸426.8K
$2,331 R 38.5K
-59.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$741 ₸335.9K
$1,513 R 25.0K
-51.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 ₸324.2K
$1,636 R 27.0K
-56.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
10.97
173.47%

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

Last update for Atyrau: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
$334
Cape Town
$715 114% $382
Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
$223
Cape Town
$222 0.3% $0.8
Eating Out
Atyrau
$145
Cape Town
$174 19.8% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
$112
Cape Town
$141 25.3% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
$78
Cape Town
$185 139% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
$76
Cape Town
$67 13% $9.9
Getting Around
Atyrau
$28
Cape Town
$75 168% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $504 in Atyrau versus $1,015 in Cape Town. 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 129% higher in Cape Town, 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 Atyrau versus $47.00 in Cape Town. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Atyrau vs $222 in Cape Town – so Cape Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Atyrau
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
19:13 7:13 PM
16:13 4:13 PM
3 h behind Atyrau
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,295
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 453 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 16.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.06 USD). 1 EUR = 18.49 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Atyrau Cape Town 9,610 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Atyrau
  • Cape Town

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Atyrau and in Cape Town compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $996 in Atyrau, $1,568 in Cape Town – roughly 57% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Atyrau compared to Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Atyrau and $2,352 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Atyrau and Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Atyrau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Atyrau and Cape Town?
Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Atyrau and $261 in Cape Town. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Cape Town – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Atyrau, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Cape Town at $1,568. In Atyrau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Atyrau and Cape Town?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $996 in Atyrau to $1,568 in Cape Town. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Atyrau or Cape Town safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Atyrau and Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Atyrau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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