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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,111 per month in Bloemfontein vs $1,364 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,719 per month in Bloemfontein vs $2,124 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,327 per month in Bloemfontein vs $2,885 in Almaty, rent included.

Bloemfontein is about 19% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bloemfontein and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Bloemfontein 19% lower, Almaty 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.43 R 200

$12.92 ₸5,880

-3.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.60 R 684

$45.03 ₸20.5K

-5.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 R 123

$8.61 ₸3,916

-11.38%

Cappuccino

$2.12 R 34.09

$3.15 ₸1,431

-32.70%

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

$1.43 R 22.98

$1.33 ₸604

7.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 R 18.01

$0.82 ₸371

36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 R 41.67

$2.43 ₸1,104

6.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 R 45.93

$3.92 ₸1,781

-27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 R 17.73

$1.65 ₸749

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 R 17.03

$0.81 ₸367

30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 R 34.41

$2.08 ₸948

2.88%

Eggs

$2.14 R 34.36

$2.30 ₸1,048

-6.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 R 127

$12.23 ₸5,563

-35.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 R 83.5

$6.66 ₸3,028

-21.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 R 127

$10.73 ₸4,881

-26.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 R 32.44

$1.85 ₸842

9.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.02

$2.36 ₸1,074

-33.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 R 28.44

$2.90 ₸1,318

-38.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 R 25.97

$2.77 ₸1,260

-41.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.17

$0.75 ₸342

109.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 R 29.70

$0.57 ₸260

224.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 R 18.20

$1.60 ₸726

-29.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 R 15.29

$0.97 ₸441

-2.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 R 42.29

$2.57 ₸1,171

2.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.84 R 77.7

$10.75 ₸4,892

-54.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 R 28.98

$1.17 ₸533

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 R 23.42

$2.38 ₸1,082

-38.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 R 14.70

$0.25 ₸114

268.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.3 R 1,242

$21.05 ₸9,576

267.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 R 18.30

$1.33 ₸603

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸287

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 R 23.52

$0.67 ₸307

117.91%

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

$38.2K R 614.1K

$26.2K ₸11.9M

45.80%

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

$30.2K R 485.1K

$29.5K ₸13.4M

2.35%

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

$79.2 R 1,272

$90.4 ₸41.1K

-12.42%

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

$34.22 R 550

$10.95 ₸4,981

212.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.26 R 534

$17.47 ₸7,947

90.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 R 518

$75.1 ₸34.2K

-57.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 R 80.9

$6.32 ₸2,875

-20.25%

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

$199 R 3,192

$425 ₸193.5K

-53.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 R 986

$86.7 ₸39.4K

-29.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.69 R 702

$46.71 ₸21.3K

-6.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 R 2,166

$139 ₸63.3K

-3.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 R 1,858

$133 ₸60.3K

-12.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 R 5,341

$791 ₸359.7K

-57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 R 4,606

$498 ₸226.4K

-42.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 R 8,544

$1,432 ₸651.5K

-62.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$546 R 8,766

$912 ₸415.1K

-40.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$493 R 7,920

$2,446 ₸1.1M

-79.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$655 R 10.5K

$1,504 ₸684.3K

-56.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,358 R 21.8K

$850 ₸386.5K

59.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.13

20.61

-41.15%

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

Last update for Bloemfontein: August 31, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Bloemfontein versus $791 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 60% 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 $43.00 in Bloemfontein versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $247 – 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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Bloemfontein and $2,046 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Bloemfontein and $45.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,111 in Bloemfontein and $1,364 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bloemfontein, where all-in costs run around $1,111, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.