Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Atyrau Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Atyrau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $921 per month in Karaganda vs $1,006 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Karaganda vs $1,634 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,000 per month in Karaganda vs $2,263 in Atyrau, rent included.

Karaganda is about 9% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Karaganda and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda 33% lower, Atyrau 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.55 ₸4,352
$9.80 ₸4,464
-2.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.35 ₸15.6K
$36.21 ₸16.5K
-5.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 ₸2,406
$6.97 ₸3,176
-24.25%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ₸881
$1.99 ₸905
-3.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸410
$1.12 ₸511
-19.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₸269
$0.75 ₸343
-21.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 ₸607
$1.61 ₸732
-17.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₸1,321
$2.11 ₸960
37.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₸566
$1.69 ₸769
-26.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸200
$0.47 ₸213
-6.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 ₸565
$1.94 ₸883
-36.08%
Eggs
$1.75 ₸799
$1.54 ₸700
13.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 ₸5,876
$10.63 ₸4,844
21.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.44 ₸2,477
$8.48 ₸3,862
-35.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ₸4,922
$7.85 ₸3,577
37.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 ₸682
$1.80 ₸819
-16.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 ₸880
$2.54 ₸1,157
-24.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 ₸1,257
$2.24 ₸1,019
23.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 ₸938
$1.71 ₸780
20.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₸296
$0.60 ₸275
8.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 ₸242
$0.43 ₸197
23.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₸458
$1.22 ₸557
-18.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₸325
$0.91 ₸413
-21.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 ₸998
$2.43 ₸1,106
-9.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.93 ₸3,613
$9.44 ₸4,300
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₸600
$1.30 ₸590
1.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₸938
$1.37 ₸624
50.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 ₸95.4
$0.34 ₸157
-38.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.94 ₸6,805
$21.37 ₸9,735
-30.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ₸554
$1.54 ₸700
-20.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 ₸553
$0.65 ₸295
86.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 ₸1,488
$6.64 ₸3,023
-50.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 ₸247
$0.61 ₸276
-11.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ₸9.8M
$17.5K ₸8.0M
23.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K ₸14.1M
$29.0K ₸13.2M
6.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ₸32.4K
$50.6 ₸23.0K
40.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.80 ₸4,464
$10.79 ₸4,913
-9.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.80 ₸5,374
$14.38 ₸6,549
-17.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.26 ₸20.2K
$64.8 ₸29.5K
-31.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 ₸8,265
$9.86 ₸4,491
83.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.18 ₸2,361
$6.12 ₸2,787
-15.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₸58.6K
$281 ₸128.2K
-54.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,445 ₸1.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ₸26.8K
$32.70 ₸14.9K
79.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 ₸26.4K
$43.73 ₸19.9K
32.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.2 ₸34.2K
$87.5 ₸39.9K
-14.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9 ₸39.1K
$86.0 ₸39.2K
-0.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$392 ₸178.3K
$508 ₸231.6K
-23.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 ₸122.6K
$339 ₸154.6K
-20.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₸323.1K
$1,084 ₸494.0K
-34.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$533 ₸242.7K
$770 ₸350.9K
-30.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,027 ₸467.7K
$949 ₸432.2K
8.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$706 ₸321.7K
$747 ₸340.4K
-5.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Atyrau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$565 ₸257.4K
$710 ₸323.4K
-20.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.25
30
-35.83%

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

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Karaganda versus $508 in Atyrau. 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 26% higher in Atyrau, 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 $34.00 in Karaganda versus $36.00 in Atyrau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $222 – 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 Atyrau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karaganda and in Atyrau compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $921 in Karaganda, $1,006 in Atyrau – roughly 9% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Karaganda compared to Atyrau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Karaganda and $1,509 in Atyrau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Karaganda and Atyrau?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Karaganda and Atyrau?
Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Karaganda and $281 in Atyrau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Atyrau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Atyrau at $1,006. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Karaganda or Atyrau?
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.
Is Karaganda or Atyrau safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Karaganda and Atyrau?
If budget matters most, go with Karaganda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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