Cost of Living Comparison Between Oskemen and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Oskemen and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Oskemen vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Oskemen vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,639 per month in Oskemen vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Oskemen is about 30% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Oskemen and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Oskemen 45% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₸1,937

$8.03 ₸3,934

-50.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.49 ₸9,061

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-51.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 ₸1,683

$6.97 ₸3,416

-50.79%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₸980

$2.40 ₸1,174

-16.67%

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

$0.80 ₸390

$0.98 ₸478

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸255

$0.57 ₸277

-8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₸659

$1.40 ₸687

-4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₸710

$2.99 ₸1,464

-51.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₸536

$1.31 ₸644

-16.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸212

$0.60 ₸293

-28.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ₸560

$1.54 ₸756

-25.97%

Eggs

$1.60 ₸782

$1.74 ₸852

-8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₸3,752

$9.74 ₸4,773

-21.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 ₸2,142

$4.70 ₸2,301

-7.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₸3,339

$7.50 ₸3,678

-9.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 ₸564

$1.35 ₸661

-14.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₸889

$1.98 ₸970

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ₸1,168

$1.95 ₸957

22.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₸1,258

$2.07 ₸1,014

24.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ₸297

$0.63 ₸308

-3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.42 ₸206

11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ₸149

$1.24 ₸608

-75.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₸359

$0.71 ₸346

2.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸975

$1.97 ₸965

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.65 ₸2,278

$10.09 ₸4,947

-53.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸653

$0.88 ₸433

51.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₸734

$2.04 ₸999

-26.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸103

$0.24 ₸118

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 ₸497

$1.16 ₸567

-12.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ₸142

$0.70 ₸343

-58.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₸1,040

$4.80 ₸2,355

-55.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸225

$0.49 ₸240

-6.12%

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

$28.1K ₸13.8M

$23.2K ₸11.4M

21.27%

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

$27.0K ₸13.2M

$27.2K ₸13.4M

-0.88%

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

$41.44 ₸20.3K

$63.8 ₸31.3K

-35.08%

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

$9.96 ₸4,881

$8.60 ₸4,213

15.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.59 ₸8,130

$13.83 ₸6,777

19.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.36 ₸11.4K

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-52.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.33 ₸8,494

$21.24 ₸10.4K

-18.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 ₸2,146

$5.11 ₸2,505

-14.29%

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

$58.3 ₸28.6K

$267 ₸130.8K

-78.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,510 ₸1.2M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-80.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ₸58.3K

$84.0 ₸41.1K

41.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.8 ₸40.6K

$43.48 ₸21.3K

90.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ₸48.0K

$96.8 ₸47.4K

1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 ₸46.0K

$119 ₸58.5K

-21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₸162.3K

$665 ₸325.9K

-50.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 ₸108.3K

$420 ₸205.7K

-47.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₸263.3K

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-54.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₸229.2K

$773 ₸378.9K

-39.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,008 ₸494.2K

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-52.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 ₸381.1K

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-37.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 ₸368.2K

$789 ₸386.9K

-4.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

3.32%

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

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Oskemen 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 5% 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 $18.00 in Oskemen versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $189 – making Oskemen 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

Oskemen vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Oskemen 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 Oskemen, 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 $736 in Oskemen and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $58.3 per month in Oskemen and $267 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.