Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarin and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarin and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $975 per month in Tamarin vs $1,367 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,637 per month in Tamarin vs $2,121 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,299 per month in Tamarin vs $2,876 in Almaty, rent included.

Tamarin is about 29% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tamarin and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Tamarin 29% lower, Almaty 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.75 MUR 269
$13.05 ₸5,880
-55.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.48 MUR 1,801
$44.41 ₸20.0K
-13.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.33 MUR 343
$8.66 ₸3,902
-15.36%
Cappuccino
$2.68 MUR 126
$3.29 ₸1,485
-18.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 MUR 53.5
$1.34 ₸603
-14.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MUR 31.07
$0.82 ₸368
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 MUR 124
$2.35 ₸1,060
12.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MUR 78.3
$3.90 ₸1,755
-57.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MUR 72.9
$1.72 ₸777
-9.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.20 MUR 9.35
$0.81 ₸366
-75.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 MUR 52.4
$2.05 ₸925
-45.37%
Eggs
$2.52 MUR 118
$2.42 ₸1,089
4.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.74 MUR 175
$12.42 ₸5,599
-69.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 MUR 302
$6.78 ₸3,053
-4.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.25 MUR 526
$11.06 ₸4,983
1.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 MUR 105
$1.93 ₸868
16.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 MUR 103
$2.32 ₸1,046
-4.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 MUR 65.8
$3.00 ₸1,354
-53.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 MUR 144
$2.70 ₸1,217
13.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 MUR 47.11
$0.77 ₸346
31.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MUR 47.03
$0.58 ₸261
72.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 MUR 35.16
$1.68 ₸756
-55.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 MUR 38.46
$0.99 ₸447
-17.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08 MUR 284
$2.65 ₸1,193
129.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.49 MUR 397
$11.04 ₸4,976
-23.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MUR 77.3
$1.23 ₸553
34.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 MUR 90.4
$2.34 ₸1,055
-17.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 MUR 40.30
$0.25 ₸113
244.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.52 ₸9,697
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 MUR 205
$1.30 ₸587
236.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.23 MUR 151
$0.64 ₸288
404.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.38 MUR 299
$10.83 ₸4,880
-41.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MUR 65.1
$0.70 ₸317
98.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MUR 1.4M
$22.3K ₸10.0M
33.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K MUR 1.5M
$29.4K ₸13.2M
7.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.65 MUR 2,136
$91.2 ₸41.1K
-49.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.75 MUR 503
$10.56 ₸4,759
1.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.96 MUR 1,355
$17.45 ₸7,864
65.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.40 MUR 1,938
$75.0 ₸33.8K
-44.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.33 ₸13.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.36 MUR 298
$6.59 ₸2,968
-3.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 MUR 6,049
$434 ₸195.7K
-70.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,051 MUR 142.8K
$11.7K ₸5.3M
-74.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 MUR 2,704
$88.4 ₸39.8K
-34.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.00 MUR 2,200
$47.17 ₸21.3K
-0.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 MUR 4,029
$142 ₸63.8K
-39.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.3 MUR 2,730
$132 ₸59.3K
-55.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 MUR 34.7K
$817 ₸368.0K
-9.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MUR 17.5K
$501 ₸225.8K
-25.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MUR 65.8K
$1,439 ₸648.5K
-2.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$909 MUR 42.6K
$901 ₸406.1K
0.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,476 ₸1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,521 ₸685.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tamarin
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 MUR 39.6K
$857 ₸386.3K
-1.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
20.61
-67.64%

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

Last update for Tamarin: September 5, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Tamarin versus $817 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 1% 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 $38.00 in Tamarin versus $44.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $252 – making Tamarin 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
Tamarin vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Tamarin?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,463 per month in Tamarin and $2,051 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tamarin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tamarin and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $975 in Tamarin and $1,367 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Tamarin and $434 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Tamarin or in Almaty?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $975, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Tamarin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tamarin or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tamarin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tamarin or Almaty?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tamarin. 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.

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