Cost of Living Comparison Between Pavlodar and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Pavlodar and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $670 per month in Pavlodar vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,061 per month in Pavlodar vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,452 per month in Pavlodar vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Pavlodar is about 37% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pavlodar and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Pavlodar 50% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.04 ₸2,958

$8.03 ₸3,934

-24.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.93 ₸9,766

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-48.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 ₸3,703

$6.97 ₸3,416

8.46%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₸826

$2.40 ₸1,174

-29.58%

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

$1.05 ₸515

$0.98 ₸478

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.57 ₸277

-17.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ₸446

$1.40 ₸687

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₸585

$2.99 ₸1,464

-60.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ₸381

$1.31 ₸644

-40.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ₸174

$0.60 ₸293

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₸462

$1.54 ₸756

-38.96%

Eggs

$1.55 ₸758

$1.74 ₸852

-10.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,367

$9.74 ₸4,773

-50.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸2,047

$4.70 ₸2,301

-11.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.93 ₸2,907

$7.50 ₸3,678

-20.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸632

$1.35 ₸661

-4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₸796

$1.98 ₸970

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ₸978

$1.95 ₸957

2.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₸753

$2.07 ₸1,014

-25.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₸389

$0.63 ₸308

25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₸330

$0.42 ₸206

59.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₸465

$1.24 ₸608

-23.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸369

$0.71 ₸346

5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₸1,078

$1.97 ₸965

11.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 ₸3,267

$10.09 ₸4,947

-33.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸458

$0.88 ₸433

5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₸770

$2.04 ₸999

-23.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 ₸93.9

$0.24 ₸118

-20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₸732

$1.16 ₸567

28.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 ₸405

$0.70 ₸343

18.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 ₸2,342

$4.80 ₸2,355

-0.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸227

$0.49 ₸240

-6.12%

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

$19.9K ₸9.8M

$23.2K ₸11.4M

-14.23%

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

$18.8K ₸9.2M

$27.2K ₸13.4M

-31.15%

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

$50.3 ₸24.7K

$63.8 ₸31.3K

-21.15%

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

$9.93 ₸4,865

$8.60 ₸4,213

15.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.75 ₸6,739

$13.83 ₸6,777

-0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.21 ₸18.2K

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-23.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.71 ₸4,758

$21.24 ₸10.4K

-54.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.32 ₸2,606

$5.11 ₸2,505

4.11%

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

$115 ₸56.5K

$267 ₸130.8K

-56.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,906 ₸2.4M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-61.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₸27.3K

$84.0 ₸41.1K

-33.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.96 ₸14.2K

$43.48 ₸21.3K

-33.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 ₸42.7K

$96.8 ₸47.4K

-9.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 ₸38.3K

$119 ₸58.5K

-34.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₸121.6K

$665 ₸325.9K

-62.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 ₸94.5K

$420 ₸205.7K

-54.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₸240.7K

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-58.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸195.3K

$773 ₸378.9K

-48.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,006 ₸493.1K

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-53.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$825 ₸404.4K

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-34.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 ₸319.9K

$789 ₸386.9K

-17.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Pavlodar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Pavlodar 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 21% 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 $20.00 in Pavlodar versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $189 – making Pavlodar 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

Pavlodar vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 58%, 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 $1,006 per month in Pavlodar 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 Pavlodar, 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 $670 in Pavlodar and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Pavlodar 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 Pavlodar, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Pavlodar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pavlodar – 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 Pavlodar. 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.