Cost of Living Comparison Between Petropavl and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Petropavl and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $680 per month in Petropavl vs $1,067 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,135 per month in Petropavl vs $1,689 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,590 per month in Petropavl vs $2,311 in Almaty, rent included.

Petropavl is about 36% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Petropavl and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Petropavl 49% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.56 ₸5,482

$7.97 ₸3,779

45.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 ₸11.1K

$38.97 ₸18.5K

-40.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ₸3,164

$6.93 ₸3,285

-3.75%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ₸1,033

$2.34 ₸1,110

-6.84%

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

$0.97 ₸460

$0.97 ₸461

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸250

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸667

$1.40 ₸665

0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₸1,124

$2.87 ₸1,361

-17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ₸368

$1.32 ₸626

-40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸205

$0.59 ₸281

-27.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 ₸828

$1.55 ₸735

12.90%

Eggs

$1.59 ₸756

$1.77 ₸840

-10.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₸4,419

$9.42 ₸4,467

-1.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 ₸2,613

$4.54 ₸2,155

21.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,863

$7.50 ₸3,555

8.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸617

$1.35 ₸639

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₸949

$1.95 ₸925

2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ₸857

$1.96 ₸930

-7.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸896

$2.10 ₸995

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ₸231

$0.58 ₸276

-15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸242

$0.42 ₸199

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₸288

$1.25 ₸593

-51.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸386

$0.74 ₸351

9.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 ₸983

$1.89 ₸898

9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 ₸3,506

$10.57 ₸5,010

-30.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸402

$0.84 ₸400

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸640

$2.07 ₸983

-34.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸99.4

$0.24 ₸114

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₸288

$1.19 ₸563

-48.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 ₸197

$0.71 ₸337

-40.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 ₸2,284

$4.62 ₸2,192

4.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 ₸196

$0.48 ₸226

-14.58%

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

$19.4K ₸9.2M

$23.7K ₸11.2M

-18.29%

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

$23.8K ₸11.3M

$27.0K ₸12.8M

-11.55%

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

$50.5 ₸23.9K

$63.6 ₸30.2K

-20.69%

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

$8.66 ₸4,105

$8.56 ₸4,057

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.69 ₸6,014

$13.78 ₸6,535

-7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.93 ₸9,447

$48.18 ₸22.8K

-58.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₸1,885

$5.33 ₸2,528

-25.33%

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

$215 ₸102.0K

$258 ₸122.5K

-16.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,930 ₸2.3M

$12.9K ₸6.1M

-61.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.67 ₸14.1K

$83.9 ₸39.8K

-64.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.76 ₸16.5K

$43.77 ₸20.8K

-20.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.34 ₸18.7K

$99.1 ₸47.0K

-60.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 ₸36.6K

$121 ₸57.2K

-36.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₸139.5K

$645 ₸306.0K

-54.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ₸75.2K

$417 ₸197.8K

-62.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₸245.5K

$1,167 ₸553.2K

-55.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₸186.7K

$764 ₸362.1K

-48.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$827 ₸392.0K

$2,359 ₸1.1M

-64.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$932 ₸441.8K

$1,374 ₸651.3K

-32.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₸135.2K

$795 ₸376.7K

-64.10%

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 Petropavl: July 26, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $294 in Petropavl versus $645 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 179% 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 $23.00 in Petropavl versus $39.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $189 – making Petropavl 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

Petropavl vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Petropavl and $1,601 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petropavl, 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 $680 in Petropavl and $1,067 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $215 per month in Petropavl and $258 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 Petropavl, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Almaty at $1,067. In Petropavl it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Petropavl – 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 Petropavl. 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.