Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $899 per month in Atyrau vs $752 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,544 per month in Atyrau vs $1,187 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Atyrau vs $1,623 in Karaganda, rent included.

Atyrau costs about 20% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Atyrau and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Atyrau 33% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 ₸4,358

$8.53 ₸4,180

4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.46 ₸15.9K

$29.67 ₸14.5K

9.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 ₸3,045

$4.97 ₸2,437

24.95%

Cappuccino

$1.82 ₸892

$1.85 ₸907

-1.62%

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

$1.11 ₸544

$0.70 ₸343

58.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₸385

$0.47 ₸228

68.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₸710

$0.95 ₸467

52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸886

$3.01 ₸1,473

-39.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸699

$0.94 ₸463

52.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ₸183

$0.44 ₸215

-15.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸757

$1.30 ₸638

18.46%

Eggs

$1.49 ₸731

$1.73 ₸845

-13.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 ₸4,426

$9.48 ₸4,644

-4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 ₸3,752

$4.24 ₸2,079

80.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₸3,388

$7.25 ₸3,555

-4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₸752

$1.32 ₸646

15.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ₸1,184

$1.45 ₸711

66.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 ₸984

$1.89 ₸929

6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₸742

$1.98 ₸971

-23.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸274

$0.56 ₸273

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸195

$0.41 ₸200

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₸543

$0.99 ₸486

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₸607

$0.76 ₸372

63.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 ₸1,065

$1.79 ₸878

21.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 ₸4,337

$7.87 ₸3,857

12.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₸589

$0.99 ₸487

21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₸600

$1.65 ₸807

-26.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸149

$0.22 ₸108

36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.43 ₸9,520

$11.56 ₸5,666

68.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 ₸680

$1.78 ₸872

-21.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₸123

$0.45 ₸222

-44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 ₸2,866

$4.38 ₸2,148

33.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.45 ₸219

8.89%

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

$15.5K ₸7.6M

$19.0K ₸9.3M

-18.59%

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

$23.1K ₸11.3M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

-8.03%

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

$46.44 ₸22.8K

$53.9 ₸26.4K

-13.84%

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

$9.52 ₸4,666

$8.04 ₸3,941

18.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 ₸6,183

$13.00 ₸6,372

-2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₸28.3K

$32.29 ₸15.8K

79.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 ₸5,764

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ₸2,674

$4.47 ₸2,191

22.15%

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

$254 ₸124.6K

$240 ₸117.4K

6.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,075 ₸1.5M

$4,875 ₸2.4M

-36.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.85 ₸14.6K

$55.6 ₸27.2K

-46.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.52 ₸18.9K

$35.64 ₸17.5K

8.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 ₸38.2K

$86.6 ₸42.5K

-9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 ₸38.4K

$83.9 ₸41.1K

-6.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₸226.1K

$333 ₸163.0K

38.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸148.6K

$210 ₸102.9K

44.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₸482.7K

$569 ₸279.0K

73.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$796 ₸390.3K

$400 ₸195.8K

99.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$855 ₸418.8K

$977 ₸478.5K

-12.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$649 ₸318.0K

$653 ₸319.8K

-0.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$668 ₸327.1K

$523 ₸256.2K

27.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

86.10%

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

Last update for Atyrau: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Atyrau versus $333 in Karaganda. 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 $32.00 in Atyrau versus $30.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $170 – making Karaganda 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

Atyrau vs Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $899 in Atyrau, $752 in Karaganda – roughly 20% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,349 per month in Atyrau and $1,127 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $254 per month in Atyrau and $240 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Atyrau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Atyrau at $899. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karaganda – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Karaganda. 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.