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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Kostanay vs $1,080 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,384 per month in Kostanay vs $1,692 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,813 per month in Kostanay vs $2,304 in Almaty, rent included.

Kostanay is about 12% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kostanay and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 29% lower, Almaty 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 ₸3,589

$7.90 ₸3,719

-3.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 ₸11.7K

$38.58 ₸18.2K

-35.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 ₸2,978

$6.92 ₸3,255

-8.53%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₸1,084

$2.43 ₸1,142

-5.35%

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

$1.03 ₸484

$0.99 ₸464

4.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸378

$0.52 ₸247

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 ₸811

$1.36 ₸639

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ₸1,534

$2.95 ₸1,387

10.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 ₸449

$1.31 ₸617

-27.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸207

$0.55 ₸258

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₸546

$1.52 ₸716

-23.68%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸836

$1.76 ₸829

1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 ₸3,623

$9.66 ₸4,549

-20.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₸2,477

$4.67 ₸2,201

12.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 ₸3,936

$7.69 ₸3,619

8.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸611

$1.39 ₸656

-6.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸900

$1.91 ₸901

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₸613

$1.94 ₸915

-32.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₸607

$2.06 ₸971

-37.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.43 ₸202

-44.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸452

$1.30 ₸613

-26.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸408

$0.74 ₸347

17.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,039

$1.94 ₸913

13.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 ₸3,689

$10.66 ₸5,018

-26.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸475

$0.82 ₸387

23.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₸1,280

$2.11 ₸991

28.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₸131

$0.24 ₸114

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,631

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 ₸479

$1.20 ₸567

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₸498

$0.71 ₸336

49.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 ₸2,710

$4.63 ₸2,180

24.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸232

$0.52 ₸245

-5.77%

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

$29.7K ₸14.0M

$23.6K ₸11.1M

25.97%

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

$26.1K ₸12.3M

$27.4K ₸12.9M

-4.55%

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

$72.6 ₸34.2K

$62.4 ₸29.4K

16.32%

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

$9.65 ₸4,544

$8.56 ₸4,028

12.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.88 ₸5,120

$13.90 ₸6,546

-21.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 ₸18.7K

$46.84 ₸22.1K

-15.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.31 ₸8,147

$21.46 ₸10.1K

-19.34%

Cinema Ticket

$3.71 ₸1,746

$5.20 ₸2,448

-28.65%

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

$186 ₸87.4K

$268 ₸126.0K

-30.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,680 ₸2.7M

$13.0K ₸6.1M

-56.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₸49.2K

$84.9 ₸39.9K

23.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₸26.5K

$44.46 ₸20.9K

26.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₸53.7K

$99.5 ₸46.8K

14.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₸48.1K

$120 ₸56.4K

-14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₸181.1K

$643 ₸302.9K

-40.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ₸155.5K

$425 ₸200.0K

-22.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸249.2K

$1,157 ₸544.9K

-54.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$776 ₸365.1K

-45.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,137 ₸535.3K

$2,362 ₸1.1M

-51.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$899 ₸423.4K

$1,364 ₸641.9K

-34.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 ₸294.8K

$834 ₸392.6K

-24.91%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Kostanay versus $643 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 33% 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 $39.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $190 – 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 13%, 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 $1,432 per month in Kostanay and $1,620 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 $954 in Kostanay and $1,080 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Kostanay and $268 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 $954, than in Almaty at $1,080. 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.