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 $967 per month in Kostanay vs $976 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,401 per month in Kostanay vs $1,502 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,836 per month in Kostanay vs $2,029 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 28% lower, Ulan Ude 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.71 ₸3,780
$9.76 ₽712
-21.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.27 ₸12.4K
$37.64 ₽2,747
-32.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.48 ₸3,176
$5.88 ₽429
10.20%
Cappuccino
$2.29 ₸1,121
$2.29 ₽167
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₸469
$1.19 ₽87.2
-19.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₸393
$0.52 ₽37.76
53.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₸879
$1.35 ₽98.9
32.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ₸1,638
$2.61 ₽190
27.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 ₸481
$1.15 ₽83.7
-14.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸216
$0.44 ₽32.07
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ₸568
$1.39 ₽101
-16.55%
Eggs
$1.78 ₸873
$1.79 ₽131
-0.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 ₸3,978
$10.97 ₽801
-25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.26 ₸2,575
$4.82 ₽352
9.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.00 ₸3,922
$8.72 ₽636
-8.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 ₸614
$1.80 ₽132
-30.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 ₸979
$1.80 ₽131
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 ₸636
$1.89 ₽138
-31.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.31 ₸641
$2.77 ₽202
-52.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ₸265
$0.85 ₽62.0
-36.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.24 ₸118
$0.71 ₽51.7
-66.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ₸458
$1.42 ₽104
-33.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₸450
$0.70 ₽51.3
31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 ₸1,079
$2.93 ₽214
-24.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.80 ₸3,822
$7.11 ₽519
9.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 ₸473
$1.03 ₽74.9
-5.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 ₸1,316
$1.94 ₽142
38.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₸148
$0.53 ₽39.03
-43.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 ₸490
$1.92 ₽140
-47.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ₸527
$0.32 ₽23.59
234.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.71 ₸2,797
$6.49 ₽474
-12.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 ₸241
$0.79 ₽57.9
-37.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K ₸14.2M
$34.7K ₽2.5M
-16.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ₸13.2M
$35.2K ₽2.6M
-23.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.4 ₸35.5K
$109 ₽7,921
-33.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.79 ₸4,797
$6.09 ₽445
60.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.18 ₸5,479
$7.67 ₽560
45.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.58 ₸19.4K
$36.08 ₽2,634
9.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.76 ₸8,704
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.79 ₸1,859
$5.13 ₽375
-26.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 ₸89.7K
$324 ₽23.7K
-43.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,805 ₸2.8M
$6,896 ₽503.3K
-15.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₸51.3K
$71.2 ₽5,199
47.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3 ₸27.6K
$44.84 ₽3,273
25.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₸56.8K
$115 ₽8,389
0.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ₸49.3K
$106 ₽7,729
-4.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 ₸186.5K
$439 ₽32.1K
-13.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ₸160.9K
$310 ₽22.6K
5.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$529 ₸259.3K
$754 ₽55.0K
-29.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 ₸209.4K
$511 ₽37.3K
-16.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,102 ₸540.3K
$2,532 ₽184.8K
-56.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$864 ₸423.6K
$1,966 ₽143.5K
-56.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostanay
Ulan Ude
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ₸296.4K
$703 ₽51.3K
-13.99%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Kostanay versus $439 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 16% 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: $173 vs $194 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Kostanay or Ulan Ude?
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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kostanay vs Ulan Ude?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,451 per month in Kostanay and $1,463 in Ulan Ude. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kostanay or Ulan Ude?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Kostanay vs Ulan Ude?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Kostanay or Ulan Ude?
Groceries cost about 12% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kostanay or Ulan Ude?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $967, than in Ulan Ude at $976. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulan Ude it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Kostanay compared to Ulan Ude?
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.
Should I move to Kostanay or Ulan Ude?
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.

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