Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Karaganda: $926 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Karaganda
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Karaganda Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Karaganda

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$926

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karaganda and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karaganda and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $926 in Karaganda versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Karaganda $926
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,492 in Karaganda versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Karaganda $1,492
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,058 in Karaganda versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Karaganda $2,058
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Karaganda costs roughly 65% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Karaganda is 31% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.85 ₸4,452

$20.77 $20.77

-52.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 ₸15.9K

$84.6 $84.6

-58.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 ₸2,453

$12.32 $12.32

-55.93%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₸869

$5.63 $5.63

-65.90%

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

$0.91 ₸413

$3.72 $3.72

-75.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸290

$2.50 $2.50

-74.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸617

$8.05 $8.05

-83.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ₸1,267

$9.01 $9.01

-68.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ₸605

$1.12 $1.12

19.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 ₸222

$3.75 $3.75

-86.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 ₸597

$3.26 $3.26

-59.51%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸808

$4.17 $4.17

-57.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₸5,929

$12.90 $12.90

1.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.40 ₸2,442

$14.16 $14.16

-61.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 ₸5,060

$16.22 $16.22

-31.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ₸673

$4.33 $4.33

-65.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₸856

$1.46 $1.46

29.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 ₸1,299

$4.51 $4.51

-36.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₸979

$4.34 $4.34

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₸301

$2.58 $2.58

-74.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₸267

$2.35 $2.35

-74.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₸467

$1.78 $1.78

-42.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸310

$2.22 $2.22

-68.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 ₸1,016

$9.88 $9.88

-77.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.43 ₸3,813

$15.08 $15.08

-44.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸610

$2.92 $2.92

-53.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₸957

$3.46 $3.46

-38.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸94.9

$1.49 $1.49

-85.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.75 ₸7,119

$41.72 $41.72

-62.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 ₸568

$2.73 $2.73

-53.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 ₸541

$1.66 $1.66

-27.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 ₸1,496

$35.30 $35.30

-90.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₸254

$0.95 $0.95

-41.05%

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

$22.0K ₸10.0M

$36.0K $36.0K

-38.84%

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

$31.9K ₸14.4M

$27.1K $27.1K

18.00%

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

$72.2 ₸32.7K

$229 $229

-68.45%

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

$10.01 ₸4,523

$59.4 $59.4

-83.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.86 ₸5,360

$69.9 $69.9

-83.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.00 ₸20.8K

$57.2 $57.2

-19.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 ₸8,505

$16.33 $16.33

15.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 ₸2,416

$14.28 $14.28

-62.61%

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

$135 ₸60.8K

$1,506 $1,506

-91.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₸26.6K

$52.8 $52.8

11.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 ₸26.1K

$43.82 $43.82

31.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 ₸35.8K

$84.8 $84.8

-6.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.6 ₸38.7K

$103 $103

-16.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₸178.2K

$1,907 $1,907

-79.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 ₸123.2K

$1,274 $1,274

-78.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₸333.5K

$3,664 $3,664

-79.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₸242.3K

$2,538 $2,538

-78.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,053 ₸476.1K

$7,614 $7,614

-86.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$711 ₸321.5K

$3,157 $3,157

-77.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$569 ₸257.3K

$5,121 $5,121

-88.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.25

6.79

183.51%

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

Last update for Karaganda: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Karaganda

$273 29.5%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 367% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Karaganda

$215 23.2%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 88% $189

Eating Out

Karaganda

$137 14.8%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 159% $217

Clothing & Footwear

Karaganda

$127 13.7%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 1.1% $1.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Karaganda

$94 10.2%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 281% $264

Sport & Entertainment

Karaganda

$57 6.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 51.3% $29

Getting Around

Karaganda

$24 2.6%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 146% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $394 in Karaganda and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 800% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Karaganda vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $405 per month, with Karaganda cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇰🇿 Karaganda

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

09:24 9:24 AM

22:24 10:24 PM

11 h behind Karaganda

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

520,486

974,447

💱 Currency

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇿 Kazakhstani Tenge (₸)

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to KZT in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Karaganda Austin, TX 11,060 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Karaganda
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karaganda wins on cost – living expenses run 188% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Karaganda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 800% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $394 in Karaganda versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $926 per month in Karaganda versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 188% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karaganda runs roughly 165% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $926 in Karaganda versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karaganda but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Karaganda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Karaganda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 188% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.