Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $694 per month in Semey vs $1,068 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Semey vs $1,679 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,528 per month in Semey vs $2,291 in Almaty, rent included.

Semey is about 35% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Semey and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Semey 48% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ₸2,049

$7.92 ₸3,660

-44.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 ₸12.5K

$39.67 ₸18.3K

-32.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 ₸2,152

$6.66 ₸3,081

-30.18%

Cappuccino

$1.54 ₸710

$2.41 ₸1,116

-36.10%

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

$0.91 ₸421

$0.95 ₸440

-4.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸257

$0.57 ₸264

-1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸533

$1.41 ₸652

-18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₸853

$2.89 ₸1,334

-36.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₸315

$1.27 ₸586

-46.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₸159

$0.54 ₸251

-37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₸768

$1.48 ₸686

12.16%

Eggs

$1.28 ₸592

$1.71 ₸793

-25.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 ₸4,048

$9.62 ₸4,449

-9.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 ₸2,079

$4.46 ₸2,060

0.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₸3,269

$7.62 ₸3,526

-7.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸595

$1.34 ₸619

-3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸902

$1.90 ₸878

2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₸910

$1.89 ₸874

4.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸874

$2.00 ₸926

-5.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸259

$0.59 ₸272

-5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸173

$0.42 ₸195

-11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₸463

$1.30 ₸601

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸355

$0.70 ₸323

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₸1,203

$1.98 ₸915

31.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.82 ₸3,152

$8.46 ₸3,912

-19.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸437

$0.84 ₸386

11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₸742

$2.14 ₸989

-24.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸81.1

$0.22 ₸102

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,226

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 ₸473

$1.14 ₸526

-10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸311

$0.67 ₸308

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 ₸2,216

$4.59 ₸2,122

4.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸213

$0.49 ₸225

-6.12%

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

$20.1K ₸9.3M

$23.2K ₸10.7M

-13.49%

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

$24.7K ₸11.4M

$27.5K ₸12.7M

-10.24%

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

$50.3 ₸23.2K

$62.4 ₸28.8K

-19.43%

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

$8.62 ₸3,987

$9.01 ₸4,166

-4.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.89 ₸5,959

$13.41 ₸6,201

-3.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₸15.5K

$47.68 ₸22.0K

-29.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.68 ₸4,476

$21.81 ₸10.1K

-55.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 ₸2,018

$5.12 ₸2,366

-14.84%

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

$214 ₸99.1K

$261 ₸120.9K

-18.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,808 ₸2.2M

$12.6K ₸5.8M

-61.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 ₸26.1K

$85.8 ₸39.7K

-34.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 ₸16.5K

$44.05 ₸20.4K

-19.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₸40.7K

$97.6 ₸45.1K

-9.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ₸36.3K

$120 ₸55.6K

-34.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₸144.2K

$653 ₸302.1K

-52.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₸92.8K

$417 ₸192.6K

-51.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 ₸240.3K

$1,188 ₸549.5K

-56.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸178.2K

$753 ₸348.3K

-48.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸994.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸609.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸377.2K

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 Semey: April 25, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $312 in Semey versus $653 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 $27.00 in Semey versus $40.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $182 – making Semey 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

Semey vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 54%, 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 $1,041 per month in Semey and $1,602 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semey, 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 $694 in Semey and $1,068 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $214 per month in Semey and $261 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semey, where all-in costs run around $694, than in Almaty at $1,068. In Semey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semey – 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 Semey. 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.