Cost of Living Comparison Between Taraz and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Taraz and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Taraz vs $1,068 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $884 per month in Taraz vs $1,679 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,206 per month in Taraz vs $2,291 in Almaty, rent included.

Taraz is about 47% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Taraz and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Taraz 58% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 ₸2,745

$7.92 ₸3,631

-24.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.50 ₸8,947

$39.67 ₸18.2K

-50.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 ₸2,662

$6.66 ₸3,057

-12.91%

Cappuccino

$1.35 ₸617

$2.41 ₸1,107

-43.98%

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

$0.76 ₸349

$0.95 ₸437

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₸171

$0.57 ₸262

-35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸547

$1.41 ₸646

-15.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸733

$2.89 ₸1,324

-44.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 ₸458

$1.27 ₸582

-21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸174

$0.54 ₸249

-29.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ₸522

$1.48 ₸681

-22.97%

Eggs

$1.75 ₸803

$1.71 ₸787

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.89 ₸4,080

$9.62 ₸4,415

-7.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 ₸2,096

$4.46 ₸2,044

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.03 ₸3,224

$7.62 ₸3,498

-7.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸597

$1.34 ₸615

-2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸907

$1.90 ₸872

4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 ₸911

$1.89 ₸868

5.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 ₸893

$2.00 ₸919

-2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸254

$0.59 ₸270

-6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸171

$0.42 ₸193

-11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₸423

$1.30 ₸597

-29.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸328

$0.70 ₸320

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 ₸884

$1.98 ₸908

-2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.46 ₸2,048

$8.46 ₸3,882

-47.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸425

$0.84 ₸383

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₸724

$2.14 ₸982

-26.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸83.0

$0.22 ₸101

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,162

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₸351

$1.14 ₸522

-32.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 ₸188

$0.67 ₸305

-38.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ₸1,580

$4.59 ₸2,105

-25.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 ₸194

$0.49 ₸224

-14.29%

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

$19.8K ₸9.1M

$23.2K ₸10.7M

-14.78%

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

$21.9K ₸10.0M

$27.5K ₸12.6M

-20.38%

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

$49.21 ₸22.6K

$62.4 ₸28.6K

-21.11%

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

$7.61 ₸3,493

$9.01 ₸4,134

-15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.73 ₸3,546

$13.41 ₸6,153

-42.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.95 ₸14.7K

$47.68 ₸21.9K

-32.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.0K

Cinema Ticket

$3.83 ₸1,757

$5.12 ₸2,347

-25.20%

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

$214 ₸98.1K

$261 ₸119.9K

-18.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,924 ₸2.3M

$12.6K ₸5.8M

-61.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.66 ₸10.9K

$85.8 ₸39.4K

-72.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.83 ₸18.3K

$44.05 ₸20.2K

-9.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₸45.4K

$97.6 ₸44.8K

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₸26.6K

$120 ₸55.2K

-51.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 ₸109.2K

$653 ₸299.8K

-63.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.7 ₸44.8K

$417 ₸191.1K

-76.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₸176.7K

$1,188 ₸545.2K

-67.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₸79.1K

$753 ₸345.6K

-77.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$834 ₸382.5K

$2,151 ₸986.6K

-61.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$592 ₸271.5K

$1,319 ₸605.1K

-55.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 ₸127.2K

$816 ₸374.3K

-66.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.25

18.39

-11.64%

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

Last update for Taraz: April 25, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Taraz 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.

Salaries run about 194% 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 $20.00 in Taraz versus $40.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $182 – making Taraz 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

Taraz vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 90%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $843 per month in Taraz 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 Taraz, 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 $562 in Taraz 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 Taraz 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 Taraz, where all-in costs run around $562, than in Almaty at $1,068. In Taraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taraz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Taraz. 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.