Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Qapshaghay vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,266 per month in Qapshaghay vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Qapshaghay vs $1,916 in Astana, rent included.

Qapshaghay is about 4% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Qapshaghay and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Qapshaghay 36% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.93 ₸3,711

$8.47 ₸3,964

-6.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.36 ₸9,063

$28.98 ₸13.6K

-33.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 ₸2,673

$5.96 ₸2,791

-4.19%

Cappuccino

$1.58 ₸740

$2.12 ₸991

-25.47%

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

$0.84 ₸392

$0.98 ₸457

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸248

$0.58 ₸270

-8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₸440

$1.15 ₸540

-18.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₸534

$2.94 ₸1,378

-61.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₸595

$0.94 ₸439

35.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸254

$0.49 ₸231

10.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 ₸688

$1.46 ₸683

0.68%

Eggs

$1.80 ₸843

$1.73 ₸809

4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₸4,428

$9.33 ₸4,369

1.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 ₸2,210

$4.85 ₸2,268

-2.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 ₸3,542

$7.24 ₸3,387

4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 ₸648

$1.30 ₸610

6.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₸921

$1.80 ₸841

9.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₸924

$2.01 ₸939

-1.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ₸971

$1.89 ₸886

10.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ₸286

$0.55 ₸256

10.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸186

$0.40 ₸188

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 ₸611

$0.95 ₸446

37.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸349

$0.75 ₸353

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 ₸699

$1.88 ₸879

-20.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₸4,149

$8.41 ₸3,935

5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸396

$0.95 ₸445

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₸973

$1.61 ₸755

29.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸67.0

$0.23 ₸108

-39.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.42 ₸6,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₸355

$1.71 ₸800

-55.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸314

$0.72 ₸338

-6.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 ₸2,183

$4.35 ₸2,038

7.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸223

$0.51 ₸241

-5.88%

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

$23.6K ₸11.0M

$20.7K ₸9.7M

13.87%

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

$26.9K ₸12.6M

$25.6K ₸12.0M

5.33%

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

$62.7 ₸29.3K

$53.1 ₸24.8K

18.17%

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

$8.81 ₸4,125

$8.06 ₸3,775

9.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.75 ₸6,436

$13.87 ₸6,491

-0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.80 ₸15.8K

$50.4 ₸23.6K

-32.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.04 ₸5,165

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 ₸2,486

$5.21 ₸2,438

1.92%

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

$260 ₸121.8K

$241 ₸112.7K

8.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,887 ₸2.3M

$4,814 ₸2.3M

1.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 ₸26.2K

$55.4 ₸25.9K

1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 ₸20.6K

$35.42 ₸16.6K

24.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 ₸45.6K

$88.2 ₸41.3K

10.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.2K

$87.9 ₸41.1K

36.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₸180.2K

$479 ₸224.1K

-19.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₸126.7K

$331 ₸154.7K

-18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 ₸301.6K

$843 ₸394.4K

-23.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 ₸202.1K

$605 ₸283.0K

-28.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,050 ₸491.5K

$1,358 ₸635.8K

-22.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$793 ₸371.3K

$975 ₸456.1K

-18.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 ₸349.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

16.12

14.08%

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

Last update for Qapshaghay: April 21, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Qapshaghay versus $481 in Astana. 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 $29 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Qapshaghay vs $176 in Astana – so Astana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $861 in Qapshaghay, $898 in Astana – roughly 4% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,291 per month in Qapshaghay and $1,346 in Astana. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Qapshaghay and $29.00 in Astana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qapshaghay, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Astana at $898. In Qapshaghay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Qapshaghay to $898 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Qapshaghay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.