Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Karaganda vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,187 per month in Karaganda vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Karaganda vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Karaganda is about 29% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karaganda and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda 44% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 ₸4,180

$8.03 ₸3,934

6.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 ₸14.5K

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-22.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₸2,437

$6.97 ₸3,416

-28.69%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸907

$2.40 ₸1,174

-22.92%

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

$0.70 ₸343

$0.98 ₸478

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.57 ₸277

-17.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ₸467

$1.40 ₸687

-32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,473

$2.99 ₸1,464

0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₸463

$1.31 ₸644

-28.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸215

$0.60 ₸293

-26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 ₸638

$1.54 ₸756

-15.58%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸845

$1.74 ₸852

-0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₸4,644

$9.74 ₸4,773

-2.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,079

$4.70 ₸2,301

-9.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.25 ₸3,555

$7.50 ₸3,678

-3.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 ₸646

$1.35 ₸661

-2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₸711

$1.98 ₸970

-26.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸929

$1.95 ₸957

-3.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₸971

$2.07 ₸1,014

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸273

$0.63 ₸308

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸200

$0.42 ₸206

-2.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₸486

$1.24 ₸608

-20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸372

$0.71 ₸346

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₸878

$1.97 ₸965

-9.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 ₸3,857

$10.09 ₸4,947

-22.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸487

$0.88 ₸433

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₸807

$2.04 ₸999

-19.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸108

$0.24 ₸118

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 ₸5,666

$17.76 ₸8,701

-34.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₸872

$1.16 ₸567

53.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₸222

$0.70 ₸343

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 ₸2,148

$4.80 ₸2,355

-8.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 ₸219

$0.49 ₸240

-8.16%

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

$19.0K ₸9.3M

$23.2K ₸11.4M

-18.10%

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

$25.1K ₸12.3M

$27.2K ₸13.4M

-7.86%

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

$53.9 ₸26.4K

$63.8 ₸31.3K

-15.56%

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

$8.04 ₸3,941

$8.60 ₸4,213

-6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.00 ₸6,372

$13.83 ₸6,777

-6.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.29 ₸15.8K

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-33.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 ₸5,764

$21.24 ₸10.4K

-44.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 ₸2,191

$5.11 ₸2,505

-12.52%

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

$240 ₸117.4K

$267 ₸130.8K

-10.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,875 ₸2.4M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-62.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₸27.2K

$84.0 ₸41.1K

-33.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.64 ₸17.5K

$43.48 ₸21.3K

-18.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₸42.5K

$96.8 ₸47.4K

-10.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 ₸41.1K

$119 ₸58.5K

-29.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸163.0K

$665 ₸325.9K

-49.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₸102.9K

$420 ₸205.7K

-49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 ₸279.0K

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-51.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₸195.8K

$773 ₸378.9K

-48.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$977 ₸478.5K

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-54.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 ₸319.8K

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-47.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$523 ₸256.2K

$789 ₸386.9K

-33.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

18.39

-12.34%

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

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Karaganda versus $665 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 51% 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 $30.00 in Karaganda versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $189 – making Karaganda 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

Karaganda vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,127 per month in Karaganda and $1,586 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, 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 $30.00 in Karaganda and $38.00 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 $752 in Karaganda and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karaganda – 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 Karaganda. 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.