Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Kostanay vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,401 per month in Kostanay vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,836 per month in Kostanay vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Kostanay is about 9% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kostanay and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 28% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 ₸3,780

$8.03 ₸3,934

-3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.27 ₸12.4K

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-34.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₸3,176

$6.97 ₸3,416

-7.03%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₸1,121

$2.40 ₸1,174

-4.58%

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

$0.96 ₸469

$0.98 ₸478

-2.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸393

$0.57 ₸277

40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₸879

$1.40 ₸687

27.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₸1,638

$2.99 ₸1,464

11.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₸481

$1.31 ₸644

-25.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸216

$0.60 ₸293

-26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₸568

$1.54 ₸756

-24.68%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸873

$1.74 ₸852

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₸3,978

$9.74 ₸4,773

-16.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₸2,575

$4.70 ₸2,301

11.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.00 ₸3,922

$7.50 ₸3,678

6.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 ₸614

$1.35 ₸661

-7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₸979

$1.98 ₸970

1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₸636

$1.95 ₸957

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₸641

$2.07 ₸1,014

-36.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸265

$0.63 ₸308

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.42 ₸206

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸458

$1.24 ₸608

-24.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸450

$0.71 ₸346

29.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₸1,079

$1.97 ₸965

11.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 ₸3,822

$10.09 ₸4,947

-22.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸473

$0.88 ₸433

10.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₸1,316

$2.04 ₸999

31.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.24 ₸118

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸490

$1.16 ₸567

-13.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ₸527

$0.70 ₸343

52.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 ₸2,797

$4.80 ₸2,355

18.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸241

$0.49 ₸240

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

$28.9K ₸14.2M

$23.2K ₸11.4M

24.54%

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

$26.9K ₸13.2M

$27.2K ₸13.4M

-1.32%

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

$72.4 ₸35.5K

$63.8 ₸31.3K

13.44%

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

$9.79 ₸4,797

$8.60 ₸4,213

13.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.18 ₸5,479

$13.83 ₸6,777

-19.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 ₸19.4K

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-18.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 ₸8,704

$21.24 ₸10.4K

-16.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.79 ₸1,859

$5.11 ₸2,505

-25.83%

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

$183 ₸89.7K

$267 ₸130.8K

-31.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,805 ₸2.8M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-54.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₸51.3K

$84.0 ₸41.1K

24.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₸27.6K

$43.48 ₸21.3K

29.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₸56.8K

$96.8 ₸47.4K

19.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₸49.3K

$119 ₸58.5K

-15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₸186.5K

$665 ₸325.9K

-42.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸160.9K

$420 ₸205.7K

-21.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸259.3K

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-54.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₸209.4K

$773 ₸378.9K

-44.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,102 ₸540.3K

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-48.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$864 ₸423.6K

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-31.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₸296.4K

$789 ₸386.9K

-23.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

18.39

0.60%

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

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Kostanay 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 31% 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 $25.00 in Kostanay versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $189 – making Kostanay 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

Kostanay vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,451 per month in Kostanay 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 Kostanay, 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 $967 in Kostanay and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $183 per month in Kostanay and $267 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $967, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kostanay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kostanay. 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.