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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Cotonou vs $1,043 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Cotonou vs $1,668 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Cotonou vs $2,292 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 28% lower, Almaty 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 F CFA 2,029

$7.86 ₸3,837

-54.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 F CFA 15.0K

$39.65 ₸19.4K

-33.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 F CFA 3,000

$7.01 ₸3,424

-24.25%

Cappuccino

$5.58 F CFA 3,150

$2.33 ₸1,140

139.48%

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

$0.92 F CFA 522

$0.99 ₸482

-7.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 F CFA 436

$0.57 ₸278

35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 F CFA 811

$1.39 ₸681

3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 F CFA 1,975

$2.90 ₸1,416

20.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.60 F CFA 1,469

$1.33 ₸649

95.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 F CFA 805

$0.56 ₸273

155.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 F CFA 1,084

$1.48 ₸725

29.73%

Eggs

$2.27 F CFA 1,282

$1.72 ₸841

31.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 F CFA 5,249

$9.77 ₸4,770

-4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 F CFA 2,864

$4.72 ₸2,304

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 F CFA 2,875

$7.47 ₸3,650

-31.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 F CFA 2,271

$1.35 ₸660

197.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 810

$1.88 ₸918

-23.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 F CFA 711

$1.95 ₸953

-35.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 F CFA 998

$2.00 ₸976

-11.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 F CFA 763

$0.63 ₸306

114.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 808

$0.42 ₸206

240.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 F CFA 294

$1.29 ₸628

-59.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 F CFA 724

$0.69 ₸338

85.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 F CFA 1,309

$1.90 ₸926

22.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 F CFA 2,454

$10.10 ₸4,934

-57.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 F CFA 669

$0.83 ₸406

42.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 F CFA 1,248

$2.06 ₸1,005

7.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 F CFA 971

$0.24 ₸118

616.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.17 ₸8,875

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 F CFA 811

$1.20 ₸585

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 F CFA 734

$0.68 ₸330

91.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 F CFA 978

$4.82 ₸2,353

-64.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 F CFA 624

$0.48 ₸232

129.17%

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

$23.3K ₸11.4M

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

$24.8K F CFA 14.0M

$26.7K ₸13.0M

-6.86%

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

$261 F CFA 147.7K

$62.3 ₸30.4K

319.86%

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

$44.50 F CFA 25.1K

$8.53 ₸4,164

421.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.3 F CFA 32.4K

$13.73 ₸6,707

317.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 F CFA 34.2K

$47.82 ₸23.4K

26.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.37 F CFA 3,035

$21.14 ₸10.3K

-74.60%

Cinema Ticket

$7.37 F CFA 4,162

$5.37 ₸2,621

37.24%

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

$189 F CFA 106.9K

$264 ₸128.9K

-28.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,558 F CFA 3.7M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-49.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 F CFA 9,870

$84.6 ₸41.3K

-79.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.70 F CFA 4,912

$44.14 ₸21.6K

-80.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$9.04 F CFA 5,106

$98.0 ₸47.9K

-90.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.05 F CFA 27.1K

$122 ₸59.5K

-60.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 F CFA 113.5K

$658 ₸321.3K

-69.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 F CFA 83.0K

$420 ₸205.1K

-65.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 F CFA 334.5K

$1,190 ₸581.4K

-50.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 F CFA 161.4K

$766 ₸373.9K

-62.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,165 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,291 ₸630.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₸374.5K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Cotonou versus $658 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 – $212 in Cotonou vs $187 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 8%, 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 $1,445 per month in Cotonou and $1,565 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 $963 in Cotonou and $1,043 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 $264 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 $963, than in Almaty at $1,043. 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.