Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Karaganda

For one person, living is cheaper in Karaganda: $929 a month against $1,010 in Atyrau, rent and utilities included – about $970 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Atyrau
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,010
/mo nomad
Karaganda
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$929
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Atyrau and in Karaganda

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 Karaganda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,010 per month in Atyrau vs $929 in Karaganda, rent included.

  • Atyrau $1,010
  • Karaganda $929

A couple spends around $1,676 per month in Atyrau vs $1,498 in Karaganda, rent included.

  • Atyrau $1,676
  • Karaganda $1,498

A family of three spends $2,342 per month in Atyrau vs $2,067 in Karaganda, rent included.

  • Atyrau $2,342
  • Karaganda $2,067

Atyrau costs about 9% more than Karaganda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Atyrau and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Atyrau 25% lower, Karaganda 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.69 ₸4,382
$9.92 ₸4,483
-2.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.92 ₸16.7K
$34.77 ₸15.7K
6.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.36 ₸3,326
$5.62 ₸2,540
30.96%
Cappuccino
$2.23 ₸1,006
$1.90 ₸861
17.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₸496
$0.87 ₸392
26.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₸355
$0.64 ₸290
23.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.64 ₸741
$1.37 ₸618
19.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₸970
$2.81 ₸1,271
-23.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ₸787
$1.33 ₸602
30.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 ₸202
$0.48 ₸219
-6.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 ₸925
$1.34 ₸605
52.99%
Eggs
$1.62 ₸733
$1.87 ₸845
-13.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.21 ₸5,067
$13.37 ₸6,043
-16.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.44 ₸3,815
$5.55 ₸2,510
52.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.90 ₸3,572
$11.16 ₸5,043
-29.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ₸822
$1.51 ₸683
20.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 ₸1,230
$1.89 ₸857
43.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,015
$2.78 ₸1,255
-19.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 ₸781
$2.09 ₸944
-17.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₸298
$0.63 ₸284
4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 ₸202
$0.54 ₸245
-16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 ₸569
$1.04 ₸469
21.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸408
$0.70 ₸315
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 ₸1,090
$2.18 ₸985
10.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.55 ₸4,319
$8.40 ₸3,798
13.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₸589
$1.36 ₸616
-4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₸631
$2.11 ₸955
-33.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₸155
$0.23 ₸104
47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.57 ₸10.2K
$15.45 ₸6,982
46.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ₸693
$1.23 ₸558
24.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₸318
$1.24 ₸562
-43.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.47 ₸2,925
$3.22 ₸1,457
100.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 ₸301
$0.52 ₸236
28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ₸7.9M
$21.6K ₸9.8M
-19.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K ₸13.1M
$32.3K ₸14.6M
-10.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.6 ₸24.2K
$72.6 ₸32.8K
-26.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.95 ₸4,950
$9.86 ₸4,457
11.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.25 ₸6,441
$11.82 ₸5,342
20.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₸29.4K
$45.55 ₸20.6K
42.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.92 ₸4,485
$18.09 ₸8,179
-45.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12 ₸2,768
$5.29 ₸2,390
15.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 ₸131.7K
$133 ₸59.9K
119.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,386 ₸1.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.80 ₸14.8K
$60.5 ₸27.4K
-45.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.07 ₸19.9K
$57.6 ₸26.0K
-23.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 ₸39.6K
$79.0 ₸35.7K
10.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 ₸39.5K
$85.7 ₸38.7K
1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 ₸230.4K
$400 ₸180.6K
27.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 ₸153.2K
$274 ₸123.7K
23.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 ₸503.6K
$730 ₸330.1K
52.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$776 ₸350.9K
$543 ₸245.7K
42.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$947 ₸428.0K
$1,053 ₸475.8K
-10.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$735 ₸332.4K
$695 ₸314.0K
5.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$732 ₸330.8K
$566 ₸256.1K
29.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
19.25
55.84%

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

Last update for Atyrau: October 17, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
$339
Karaganda
$274 19.2% $65
Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
$226
Karaganda
$216 4.5% $10
Eating Out
Atyrau
$146
Karaganda
$138 6% $8.8
Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
$113
Karaganda
$127 12.3% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
$79
Karaganda
$94 19.7% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
$77
Karaganda
$56 27.5% $21
Getting Around
Atyrau
$29
Karaganda
$24 17.8% $5.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $510 in Atyrau versus $400 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 29% 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 $37.00 in Atyrau versus $35.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $216 – making Karaganda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Atyrau
🇰🇿 Karaganda
🕒 Local time
15:49 3:49 PM
16:49 4:49 PM
1 h ahead of Atyrau
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,295
520,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Atyrau Karaganda 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Atyrau
  • Karaganda

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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Atyrau and in Karaganda compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,010 in Atyrau, $929 in Karaganda – roughly 9% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.
What salary covers living expenses in Atyrau compared to Karaganda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,515 per month in Atyrau and $1,393 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Atyrau and Karaganda?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Atyrau and Karaganda?
Kindergarten costs $291 per month in Atyrau and $133 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Atyrau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $929, than in Atyrau at $1,010. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Atyrau or Karaganda?
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.
Is Atyrau or Karaganda 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 Karaganda?
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.

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