Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloemfontein and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloemfontein and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $962 per month in Bloemfontein vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,461 per month in Bloemfontein vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Bloemfontein vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Bloemfontein is about 9% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bloemfontein and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Bloemfontein 28% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.14 R 181

$8.03 ₸3,934

38.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.74 R 613

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 R 107

$6.97 ₸3,416

-5.16%

Cappuccino

$1.83 R 29.73

$2.40 ₸1,174

-23.75%

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

$1.40 R 22.72

$0.98 ₸478

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 R 15.41

$0.57 ₸277

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 R 38.32

$1.40 ₸687

68.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 R 35.87

$2.99 ₸1,464

-26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 R 16.18

$1.31 ₸644

-23.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 R 16.00

$0.60 ₸293

63.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 R 32.11

$1.54 ₸756

28.57%

Eggs

$1.99 R 32.34

$1.74 ₸852

14.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 R 114

$9.74 ₸4,773

-28.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 R 78.5

$4.70 ₸2,301

2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.99 R 114

$7.50 ₸3,678

-6.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 R 27.03

$1.35 ₸661

22.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 R 18.95

$1.98 ₸970

-40.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 R 23.67

$1.95 ₸957

-25.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 R 21.68

$2.07 ₸1,014

-35.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 R 14.00

$0.63 ₸308

36.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 R 28.11

$0.42 ₸206

311.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 R 17.37

$1.24 ₸608

-13.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 R 14.79

$0.71 ₸346

28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 R 41.32

$1.97 ₸965

28.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 R 79.4

$10.09 ₸4,947

-51.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 R 24.03

$0.88 ₸433

68.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 R 24.68

$2.04 ₸999

-25.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 R 12.66

$0.24 ₸118

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 R 17.92

$1.16 ₸567

-5.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 R 10.74

$0.70 ₸343

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 R 64.3

$4.80 ₸2,355

-17.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 R 20.88

$0.49 ₸240

163.27%

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

$23.0K R 373.6K

$23.2K ₸11.4M

-0.93%

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

$24.8K R 402.9K

$27.2K ₸13.4M

-9.00%

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

$75.3 R 1,224

$63.8 ₸31.3K

18.03%

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

$30.97 R 503

$8.60 ₸4,213

260.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.17 R 571

$13.83 ₸6,777

154.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.07 R 472

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-40.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 R 93.4

$5.11 ₸2,505

12.33%

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

$124 R 2,017

$267 ₸130.8K

-53.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,264 R 69.3K

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-66.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 R 915

$84.0 ₸41.1K

-32.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.94 R 519

$43.48 ₸21.3K

-26.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 R 2,055

$96.8 ₸47.4K

30.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.7 R 1,491

$119 ₸58.5K

-23.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 R 4,779

$665 ₸325.9K

-55.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 R 4,711

$420 ₸205.7K

-30.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 R 7,717

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-59.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 R 8,273

$773 ₸378.9K

-34.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$501 R 8,147

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-76.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$640 R 10.4K

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-48.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,338 R 21.7K

$789 ₸386.9K

69.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.47

18.39

-37.63%

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

Last update for Bloemfontein: June 2, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $294 in Bloemfontein versus $665 in Almaty. 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 70% higher in Bloemfontein, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Bloemfontein versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $189 – making Bloemfontein 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

Bloemfontein vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,443 per month in Bloemfontein and $1,586 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $962 in Bloemfontein and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $124 per month in Bloemfontein and $267 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bloemfontein, where all-in costs run around $962, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Bloemfontein it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Bloemfontein. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.