Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotonou and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotonou and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $978 per month in Cotonou vs $1,068 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,407 per month in Cotonou vs $1,679 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Cotonou vs $2,291 in Almaty, rent included.

Cotonou is about 8% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cotonou and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Cotonou 27% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 F CFA 1,948

$7.92 ₸3,660

-56.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.93 F CFA 15.1K

$39.67 ₸18.3K

-32.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 F CFA 2,940

$6.66 ₸3,081

-21.32%

Cappuccino

$5.52 F CFA 3,097

$2.41 ₸1,116

129.05%

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

$0.86 F CFA 483

$0.95 ₸440

-9.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 F CFA 435

$0.57 ₸264

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 F CFA 814

$1.41 ₸652

2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 F CFA 1,956

$2.89 ₸1,334

20.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.65 F CFA 1,486

$1.27 ₸586

108.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 F CFA 774

$0.54 ₸251

155.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 F CFA 1,037

$1.48 ₸686

25.00%

Eggs

$2.18 F CFA 1,221

$1.71 ₸793

27.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 F CFA 5,179

$9.62 ₸4,449

-4.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 F CFA 2,763

$4.46 ₸2,060

10.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 F CFA 2,877

$7.62 ₸3,526

-32.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 F CFA 2,183

$1.34 ₸619

190.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 F CFA 771

$1.90 ₸878

-27.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 F CFA 710

$1.89 ₸874

-32.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 F CFA 991

$2.00 ₸926

-11.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 F CFA 789

$0.59 ₸272

138.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 F CFA 811

$0.42 ₸195

245.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 F CFA 267

$1.30 ₸601

-63.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 F CFA 718

$0.70 ₸323

82.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 F CFA 1,309

$1.98 ₸915

17.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 F CFA 3,659

$8.46 ₸3,912

-22.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 F CFA 698

$0.84 ₸386

47.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 F CFA 1,281

$2.14 ₸989

6.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 F CFA 1,012

$0.22 ₸102

718.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,226

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 F CFA 810

$1.14 ₸526

26.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 F CFA 705

$0.67 ₸308

88.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 F CFA 1,005

$4.59 ₸2,122

-61.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 F CFA 595

$0.49 ₸225

116.33%

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

$23.2K ₸10.7M

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

$24.3K F CFA 13.6M

$27.5K ₸12.7M

-11.57%

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

$269 F CFA 150.9K

$62.4 ₸28.8K

331.36%

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

$44.80 F CFA 25.1K

$9.01 ₸4,166

397.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 F CFA 31.1K

$13.41 ₸6,201

313.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 F CFA 33.0K

$47.68 ₸22.0K

23.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.44 F CFA 3,051

$21.81 ₸10.1K

-75.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.53 F CFA 4,221

$5.12 ₸2,366

47.07%

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

$189 F CFA 106.1K

$261 ₸120.9K

-27.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,522 F CFA 3.7M

$12.6K ₸5.8M

-48.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.58 F CFA 9,863

$85.8 ₸39.7K

-79.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.64 F CFA 4,846

$44.05 ₸20.4K

-80.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$9.04 F CFA 5,070

$97.6 ₸45.1K

-90.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.26 F CFA 27.6K

$120 ₸55.6K

-59.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 F CFA 113.3K

$653 ₸302.1K

-69.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 F CFA 83.6K

$417 ₸192.6K

-64.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 F CFA 323.7K

$1,188 ₸549.5K

-51.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 F CFA 159.7K

$753 ₸348.3K

-62.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸994.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸609.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸377.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

-72.81%

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

Last update for Cotonou: April 25, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in Cotonou versus $653 in Almaty. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Cotonou versus $40.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Cotonou vs $182 in Almaty – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cotonou vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,467 per month in Cotonou and $1,602 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cotonou, 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 $978 in Cotonou and $1,068 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $189 per month in Cotonou and $261 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cotonou, where all-in costs run around $978, than in Almaty at $1,068. In Cotonou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cotonou – 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 Cotonou. 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.