Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $689 per month in Semey vs $897 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,093 per month in Semey vs $1,402 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,497 per month in Semey vs $1,907 in Astana, rent included.

Semey is about 23% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Semey and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Semey 49% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₸2,194

$8.20 ₸4,007

-45.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.81 ₸13.6K

$29.59 ₸14.5K

-6.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 ₸2,375

$5.98 ₸2,921

-18.73%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ₸775

$2.21 ₸1,079

-28.05%

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

$0.92 ₸448

$0.95 ₸464

-3.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₸269

$0.52 ₸255

5.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸578

$1.20 ₸588

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸886

$2.95 ₸1,443

-38.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₸332

$1.00 ₸486

-32.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 ₸156

$0.50 ₸242

-36.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₸780

$1.39 ₸677

15.11%

Eggs

$1.28 ₸623

$1.71 ₸834

-25.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.91 ₸4,350

$9.25 ₸4,518

-3.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 ₸2,262

$4.67 ₸2,280

-0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 ₸3,441

$6.95 ₸3,395

1.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.35 ₸660

-0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸950

$1.87 ₸912

4.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₸943

$1.89 ₸925

2.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₸933

$1.98 ₸965

-3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸266

$0.55 ₸269

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.40 ₸197

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸461

$1.02 ₸496

-7.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸372

$0.72 ₸350

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,253

$1.80 ₸882

42.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 ₸3,263

$9.08 ₸4,436

-26.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₸479

$1.01 ₸496

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸753

$1.62 ₸790

-4.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸109

$0.23 ₸113

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.83 ₸7,242

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 ₸465

$1.72 ₸842

-44.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸326

$0.67 ₸329

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 ₸2,326

$4.43 ₸2,165

7.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.50 ₸246

-6.00%

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

$20.4K ₸10.0M

$21.0K ₸10.3M

-3.01%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$25.6K ₸12.5M

-3.89%

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

$50.4 ₸24.6K

$54.4 ₸26.5K

-7.21%

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

$8.66 ₸4,232

$8.34 ₸4,076

3.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 ₸6,330

$13.90 ₸6,787

-6.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.37 ₸16.3K

$51.3 ₸25.1K

-34.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.92 ₸4,846

$10.98 ₸5,363

-9.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 ₸2,125

$5.38 ₸2,628

-19.14%

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

$212 ₸103.6K

$243 ₸118.6K

-12.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,930 ₸2.4M

$4,967 ₸2.4M

-0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 ₸27.9K

$56.1 ₸27.4K

1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 ₸17.0K

$34.98 ₸17.1K

-0.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 ₸42.6K

$86.8 ₸42.4K

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ₸38.3K

$88.0 ₸43.0K

-10.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₸156.2K

$468 ₸228.4K

-31.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 ₸97.4K

$321 ₸156.6K

-37.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₸252.9K

$870 ₸424.9K

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₸192.9K

$597 ₸291.7K

-33.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,363 ₸665.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸484.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$809 ₸395.3K

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 Semey: June 6, 2026

Last update for Astana: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Semey versus $468 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 $28.00 in Semey versus $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $176 – 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $689 in Semey, $897 in Astana – roughly 30% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,034 per month in Semey and $1,345 in Astana. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Semey and $30.00 in Astana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $689 in Semey and $897 in Astana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $689 in Semey to $897 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 Semey. 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.