Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Ulan Ude Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Ulan Ude

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Kostanay vs $960 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,384 per month in Kostanay vs $1,464 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,813 per month in Kostanay vs $1,967 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

Kostanay is about 1% cheaper than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kostanay and Ulan Ude are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 29% lower, Ulan Ude 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 ₸3,589

$9.28 ₽729

-17.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 ₸11.7K

$37.70 ₽2,959

-33.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 ₸2,978

$5.99 ₽470

5.68%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₸1,084

$2.29 ₽180

0.44%

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

$1.03 ₸484

$1.19 ₽93.3

-13.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸378

$0.48 ₽37.39

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 ₸811

$1.42 ₽111

21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ₸1,534

$2.53 ₽198

28.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 ₸449

$1.16 ₽91.3

-18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸207

$0.44 ₽34.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₸546

$1.37 ₽107

-15.33%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸836

$1.72 ₽135

3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 ₸3,623

$10.69 ₽839

-27.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₸2,477

$4.90 ₽385

7.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 ₸3,936

$8.89 ₽697

-5.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸611

$1.73 ₽136

-24.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸900

$1.84 ₽144

3.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₸613

$1.93 ₽151

-32.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₸607

$2.66 ₽209

-51.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$0.79 ₽61.7

-26.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.68 ₽53.0

-64.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸452

$1.40 ₽110

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸408

$0.68 ₽53.3

27.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,039

$2.98 ₽234

-25.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 ₸3,689

$6.36 ₽500

23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸475

$1.00 ₽78.7

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₸1,280

$1.92 ₽151

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₸131

$0.49 ₽38.21

-42.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 ₸479

$1.87 ₽147

-45.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₸498

$0.33 ₽25.88

221.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 ₸2,710

$6.28 ₽493

-8.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸232

$0.80 ₽62.6

-38.75%

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

$29.7K ₸14.0M

$34.8K ₽2.7M

-14.79%

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

$26.1K ₸12.3M

$36.0K ₽2.8M

-27.47%

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

$72.6 ₸34.2K

$109 ₽8,585

-33.60%

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

$9.65 ₸4,544

$5.99 ₽470

61.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.88 ₸5,120

$7.76 ₽609

40.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 ₸18.7K

$35.95 ₽2,821

10.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.31 ₸8,147

Cinema Ticket

$3.71 ₸1,746

$5.09 ₽400

-27.11%

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

$186 ₸87.4K

$319 ₽25.1K

-41.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,680 ₸2.7M

$7,056 ₽553.8K

-19.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₸49.2K

$68.8 ₽5,398

52.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₸26.5K

$44.46 ₽3,490

26.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₸53.7K

$114 ₽8,914

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₸48.1K

$108 ₽8,513

-5.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₸181.1K

$447 ₽35.1K

-13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ₸155.5K

$306 ₽24.0K

7.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸249.2K

$759 ₽59.6K

-30.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$516 ₽40.5K

-17.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,137 ₸535.3K

$2,329 ₽182.8K

-51.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$899 ₸423.4K

$1,802 ₽141.5K

-50.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 ₸294.8K

$670 ₽52.6K

-6.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

18.33

0.93%

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

Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Kostanay versus $447 in Ulan Ude. 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 7% higher in Ulan Ude, 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 Ulan Ude. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $191 – 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulan Ude costs about 1% more than Kostanay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,432 per month in Kostanay and $1,440 in Ulan Ude. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kostanay and $38.00 in Ulan Ude. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Ulan Ude, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Ulan Ude at $960. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulan Ude 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, Ulan Ude makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.