Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Qapshaghay vs $1,038 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,266 per month in Qapshaghay vs $1,678 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Qapshaghay vs $2,318 in Almaty, rent included.

Qapshaghay is about 17% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Qapshaghay and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Qapshaghay 36% lower, Almaty 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 ₸3,749

$7.99 ₸3,739

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 ₸9,217

$39.80 ₸18.6K

-50.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ₸2,803

$6.74 ₸3,155

-11.13%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ₸710

$2.29 ₸1,074

-33.62%

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

$0.91 ₸428

$0.97 ₸453

-6.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₸252

$0.56 ₸264

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₸464

$1.41 ₸660

-29.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₸538

$2.91 ₸1,364

-60.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸619

$1.31 ₸614

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸260

$0.54 ₸254

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸691

$1.53 ₸716

-3.27%

Eggs

$1.72 ₸803

$1.78 ₸832

-3.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₸4,406

$9.63 ₸4,507

-2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,186

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 ₸3,644

$7.84 ₸3,669

-0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸630

$1.34 ₸628

0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸925

$1.96 ₸920

1.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸888

$1.89 ₸883

0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸969

$2.04 ₸954

1.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ₸288

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸197

$0.40 ₸186

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸610

$1.24 ₸579

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸352

$0.75 ₸351

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 ₸661

$1.99 ₸929

-29.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 ₸3,842

$8.54 ₸3,997

-3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₸1,006

$2.14 ₸1,002

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸65.1

$0.24 ₸113

-41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.16 ₸8,501

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₸348

$1.20 ₸564

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸298

$0.67 ₸314

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 ₸2,211

$4.61 ₸2,160

2.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.49 ₸229

-2.04%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$23.7K ₸11.1M

0.72%

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

$26.8K ₸12.6M

$27.3K ₸12.8M

-1.88%

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

$63.6 ₸29.8K

$63.7 ₸29.8K

-0.14%

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

$8.98 ₸4,204

$8.97 ₸4,200

0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,411

$13.93 ₸6,519

-1.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.69 ₸15.3K

$48.63 ₸22.8K

-32.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.11 ₸9,879

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ₸2,410

$5.11 ₸2,391

0.78%

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

$260 ₸121.8K

$261 ₸122.1K

-0.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,792 ₸2.2M

$12.7K ₸5.9M

-62.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 ₸26.2K

$84.9 ₸39.7K

-33.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.06 ₸20.6K

$44.01 ₸20.6K

0.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 ₸46.2K

$97.2 ₸45.5K

1.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.2K

$121 ₸56.7K

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸186.4K

$656 ₸306.8K

-39.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₸125.9K

$422 ₸197.6K

-36.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 ₸299.2K

$1,188 ₸556.0K

-46.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ₸205.8K

$760 ₸355.8K

-42.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,191 ₸557.4K

$2,105 ₸985.1K

-43.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$835 ₸390.8K

$1,289 ₸603.2K

-35.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$822 ₸384.7K

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 Qapshaghay: April 14, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Qapshaghay versus $656 in Almaty. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Qapshaghay versus $40 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $186 – making Qapshaghay 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

Qapshaghay vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,291 per month in Qapshaghay and $1,557 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qapshaghay, 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 $861 in Qapshaghay and $1,038 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $260 per month in Qapshaghay and $261 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 Qapshaghay, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Almaty at $1,038. In Qapshaghay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qapshaghay – 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 Qapshaghay. 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.