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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $946 per month in Cotonou vs $1,381 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,477 per month in Cotonou vs $2,187 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,009 per month in Cotonou vs $2,993 in Almaty, rent included.

Cotonou is about 32% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Cotonou sits 31% below the global median, while Almaty is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 F CFA 3,052

$13.67 ₸6,129

-60.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.50 F CFA 20.9K

$45.32 ₸20.3K

-19.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 F CFA 5,668

$8.76 ₸3,925

13.24%

Cappuccino

$5.12 F CFA 2,927

$3.23 ₸1,450

58.51%

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

$1.05 F CFA 599

$1.34 ₸602

-21.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 F CFA 519

$0.93 ₸417

-2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 491

$2.76 ₸1,237

-68.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 F CFA 1,538

$4.09 ₸1,836

-34.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.17 F CFA 1,814

$1.68 ₸753

88.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 F CFA 731

$0.84 ₸376

52.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 F CFA 1,074

$2.18 ₸976

-13.76%

Eggs

$2.81 F CFA 1,605

$2.50 ₸1,120

12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 F CFA 5,522

$12.57 ₸5,636

-23.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 F CFA 3,232

$6.76 ₸3,031

-16.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 F CFA 2,963

$11.19 ₸5,016

-53.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 F CFA 2,466

$1.96 ₸877

120.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 F CFA 1,105

$2.40 ₸1,075

-19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 764

$2.90 ₸1,302

-53.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 F CFA 1,590

$2.86 ₸1,281

-2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 F CFA 741

$0.79 ₸353

64.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

$0.59 ₸264

205.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 F CFA 257

$1.71 ₸767

-73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 F CFA 663

$0.99 ₸446

17.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 F CFA 1,963

$2.57 ₸1,153

33.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.29 F CFA 2,451

$11.15 ₸5,000

-61.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 F CFA 695

$1.25 ₸559

-2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 F CFA 1,079

$2.34 ₸1,048

-19.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 F CFA 776

$0.28 ₸127

385.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.71 ₸9,735

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 F CFA 788

$1.30 ₸584

6.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 F CFA 821

$0.70 ₸312

105.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.27 ₸5,050

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 F CFA 701

$0.68 ₸304

80.88%

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

$22.7K ₸10.2M

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

$25.1K F CFA 14.3M

$30.1K ₸13.5M

-16.61%

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

$151 F CFA 86.1K

$93.2 ₸41.8K

61.56%

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

$35.44 F CFA 20.2K

$10.81 ₸4,846

227.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.28 F CFA 28.2K

$18.01 ₸8,073

173.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.48 F CFA 28.3K

$75.4 ₸33.8K

-34.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.54 F CFA 2,025

$29.99 ₸13.4K

-88.20%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 F CFA 5,061

$6.68 ₸2,995

32.63%

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

$137 F CFA 78.0K

$447 ₸200.3K

-69.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,660 F CFA 3.2M

$11.9K ₸5.3M

-52.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.92 F CFA 14.8K

$91.9 ₸41.2K

-71.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.73 ₸20.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.87 F CFA 19.9K

$141 ₸63.3K

-75.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 F CFA 40.3K

$133 ₸59.7K

-47.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 F CFA 103.9K

$817 ₸366.1K

-77.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 F CFA 99.8K

$499 ₸223.8K

-65.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 F CFA 351.0K

$1,512 ₸678.1K

-59.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 F CFA 245.2K

$918 ₸411.4K

-53.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,535 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ₸691.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.2K

$875 ₸392.1K

-70.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

-80.59%

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

Last update for Cotonou: September 13, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $182 in Cotonou versus $817 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 235% higher in Almaty, 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 Cotonou versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $255 – making Cotonou 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

Cotonou vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,418 per month in Cotonou and $2,071 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 $946 in Cotonou and $1,381 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $137 per month in Cotonou and $447 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 $946, than in Almaty at $1,381. 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.