For one person, living is cheaper in Kazakhstan: $1,045 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Kazakhstan and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kazakhstan and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,045 per month in Kazakhstan vs $2,701 in the United States, rent included.
Kazakhstan $1,045
United States $2,701
A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Kazakhstan vs $3,980 in the United States, rent included.
Kazakhstan $1,649
United States $3,980
A family of three spends $2,252 per month in Kazakhstan vs $5,258 in the United States, rent included.
Kazakhstan $2,252
United States $5,258
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($980–$5,162) than in Kazakhstan ($628–$1,372), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Kazakhstan is roughly 61% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Kazakhstan sits 23% below the global median, while the United States is 100% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.93₸4,939
$19.92$19.92
-45.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.15₸18.1K
$81.0$81.0
-50.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.71₸3,485
$12.07$12.07
-36.12%
Cappuccino
$2.53₸1,145
$5.55$5.55
-54.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16₸526
$2.67$2.67
-56.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₸304
$2.09$2.09
-67.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.51₸685
$5.96$5.96
-74.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46₸1,111
$7.76$7.76
-68.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43₸648
$1.05$1.05
36.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53₸242
$3.55$3.55
-85.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₸733
$4.64$4.64
-65.09%
Eggs
$2.03₸916
$4.18$4.18
-51.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.06₸4,998
$12.76$12.76
-13.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65₸2,552
$12.63$12.63
-55.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.39₸4,246
$17.22$17.22
-45.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56₸703
$5.15$5.15
-69.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20₸996
$1.64$1.64
34.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49₸1,125
$4.46$4.46
-44.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21₸1,001
$4.98$4.98
-55.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75₸339
$2.84$2.84
-73.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52₸236
$3.09$3.09
-83.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32₸597
$2.19$2.19
-39.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95₸428
$2.27$2.27
-58.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49₸1,127
$10.61$10.61
-76.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.72₸3,941
$14.71$14.71
-40.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19₸538
$2.10$2.10
-43.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01₸907
$3.82$3.82
-47.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₸114
$2.35$2.35
-89.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.43₸7,881
$64.1$64.1
-72.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08₸490
$3.57$3.57
-69.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85₸386
$1.85$1.85
-54.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.56₸2,967
$30.19$30.19
-78.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63₸285
$1.07$1.07
-41.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K₸10.9M
$35.3K$35.3K
-31.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K₸13.5M
$25.9K$25.9K
15.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.6₸31.0K
$217$217
-68.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.60₸4,790
$61.4$61.4
-82.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.34₸7,385
$74.4$74.4
-78.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.02₸22.2K
$45.08$45.08
8.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34₸9,648
$23.07$23.07
-7.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₸2,442
$14.79$14.79
-63.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324₸146.5K
$1,480$1,480
-78.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K₸4.6M
$25.5K$25.5K
-59.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0₸30.3K
$53.0$53.0
26.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.00₸21.7K
$42.75$42.75
12.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₸54.4K
$94.3$94.3
27.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108₸48.9K
$115$115
-6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$502₸227.0K
$1,678$1,678
-70.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337₸152.5K
$1,313$1,313
-74.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$887₸400.9K
$2,649$2,649
-66.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$593₸267.9K
$2,183$2,183
-72.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,502₸679.2K
$3,374$3,374
-55.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072₸484.5K
$2,661$2,661
-59.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kazakhstan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$680₸307.6K
$4,404$4,404
-84.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.08
6.55
191.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kazakhstan: October 10, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kazakhstan
$337 32.3%
United States
$1.3K 48.6% ↑ 289%$976
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kazakhstan
$213 20.4%
United States
$411 15.2% ↑ 92.7%$198
🍽Eating Out
Kazakhstan
$161 15.4%
United States
$327 12.1% ↑ 103%$166
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kazakhstan
$155 14.8%
United States
$137 5.1% ↓ 11.1%$17
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kazakhstan
$96 9.2%
United States
$352 13% ↑ 269%$257
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kazakhstan
$60 5.7%
United States
$75 2.8% ↑ 24.8%$15
🚌Getting Around
Kazakhstan
$24 2.3%
United States
$86 3.2% ↑ 263%$62
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kazakhstan
$593 26.3%
United States
$2.2K 41.5% ↑ 268%$1.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kazakhstan
$491 21.8%
United States
$942 17.9% ↑ 91.9%$451
🍽Eating Out
Kazakhstan
$530 23.5%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 101%$535
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kazakhstan
$344 15.3%
United States
$305 5.8% ↓ 11.1%$38
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kazakhstan
$106 4.7%
United States
$414 7.9% ↑ 290%$308
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kazakhstan
$141 6.3%
United States
$172 3.3% ↑ 22.3%$31
🚌Getting Around
Kazakhstan
$48 2.1%
United States
$177 3.4% ↑ 269%$129
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $385 in Kazakhstan vs $1,609 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $578 in Astana and $2,730 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $555 in Kazakhstan vs $4,533 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 318% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 134% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 717% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
Kazakhstan→United States10,140 km≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
Kazakhstan
United States
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
Kazakhstan vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kazakhstan more expensive than the United States?
Kazakhstan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 158% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $385 in Kazakhstan.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Kazakhstan, adding to the overall 158% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Kazakhstan or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Kazakhstan, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Kazakhstan or to the United States?
Kazakhstan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Kazakhstan vs other spots: cost of living compared