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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Cotonou vs $1,067 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Cotonou vs $1,689 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,854 per month in Cotonou vs $2,311 in Almaty, rent included.

Cotonou is about 7% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cotonou and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Cotonou 25% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 F CFA 1,980

$7.97 ₸3,797

-56.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.77 F CFA 15.3K

$38.97 ₸18.6K

-31.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 F CFA 2,946

$6.93 ₸3,301

-25.54%

Cappuccino

$5.56 F CFA 3,175

$2.34 ₸1,115

137.61%

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

$0.86 F CFA 492

$0.97 ₸463

-11.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 F CFA 449

$0.53 ₸251

49.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 F CFA 799

$1.40 ₸668

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 F CFA 2,060

$2.87 ₸1,367

25.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.58 F CFA 1,472

$1.32 ₸629

95.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 F CFA 820

$0.59 ₸283

144.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 F CFA 1,100

$1.55 ₸739

23.87%

Eggs

$2.22 F CFA 1,271

$1.77 ₸844

25.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 F CFA 5,288

$9.42 ₸4,488

-1.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 F CFA 2,888

$4.54 ₸2,165

11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.16 F CFA 2,949

$7.50 ₸3,572

-31.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 F CFA 2,217

$1.35 ₸642

187.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 F CFA 784

$1.95 ₸929

-29.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 F CFA 694

$1.96 ₸935

-38.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 995

$2.10 ₸1,000

-17.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 766

$0.58 ₸277

131.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 859

$0.42 ₸200

257.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 F CFA 293

$1.25 ₸596

-59.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 F CFA 705

$0.74 ₸353

66.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 F CFA 1,341

$1.89 ₸903

24.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.28 F CFA 2,446

$10.57 ₸5,034

-59.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 F CFA 686

$0.84 ₸402

42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 F CFA 1,309

$2.07 ₸988

10.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 F CFA 1,030

$0.24 ₸115

650.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,398

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 F CFA 789

$1.19 ₸565

15.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 F CFA 712

$0.71 ₸339

76.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 F CFA 994

$4.62 ₸2,203

-62.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 F CFA 636

$0.48 ₸227

131.25%

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

$23.7K ₸11.3M

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

$24.9K F CFA 14.2M

$27.0K ₸12.8M

-7.74%

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

$266 F CFA 152.1K

$63.6 ₸30.3K

318.47%

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

$43.54 F CFA 24.9K

$8.56 ₸4,076

408.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 F CFA 32.0K

$13.78 ₸6,566

306.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 F CFA 33.6K

$48.18 ₸22.9K

22.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.40 F CFA 3,086

$21.54 ₸10.3K

-74.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 F CFA 4,294

$5.33 ₸2,540

40.90%

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

$185 F CFA 105.5K

$258 ₸123.0K

-28.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,379 F CFA 3.6M

$12.9K ₸6.2M

-50.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.45 F CFA 9,972

$83.9 ₸39.9K

-79.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.70 F CFA 4,972

$43.77 ₸20.8K

-80.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$9.04 F CFA 5,169

$99.1 ₸47.2K

-90.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.16 F CFA 28.1K

$121 ₸57.5K

-59.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 F CFA 113.8K

$645 ₸307.5K

-69.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 F CFA 85.2K

$417 ₸198.7K

-64.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 F CFA 326.4K

$1,167 ₸555.8K

-51.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 F CFA 161.6K

$764 ₸363.8K

-62.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸654.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 F CFA 97.9K

$795 ₸378.5K

-78.44%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Cotonou versus $645 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 364% 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 $27.00 in Cotonou versus $39.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $209 in Cotonou vs $189 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 7%, 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 $1,496 per month in Cotonou and $1,601 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 $997 in Cotonou and $1,067 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $185 per month in Cotonou and $258 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 $997, than in Almaty at $1,067. 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.