Cost of Living Comparison Between Taraz and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Taraz and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $555 per month in Taraz vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $888 per month in Taraz vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,221 per month in Taraz vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Taraz is about 38% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Taraz and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Taraz 58% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 ₸2,739

$8.27 ₸3,896

-29.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 ₸9,194

$29.74 ₸14.0K

-34.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.95 ₸2,802

$5.74 ₸2,702

3.66%

Cappuccino

$1.36 ₸640

$2.22 ₸1,047

-38.74%

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

$0.76 ₸360

$0.91 ₸430

-16.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₸177

$0.57 ₸266

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸563

$1.18 ₸558

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸755

$3.01 ₸1,416

-46.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₸443

$0.97 ₸457

-3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸178

$0.46 ₸219

-17.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ₸536

$1.38 ₸651

-17.39%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸816

$1.69 ₸796

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 ₸4,135

$9.49 ₸4,468

-7.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ₸2,149

$4.83 ₸2,273

-5.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 ₸3,433

$6.98 ₸3,287

4.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸612

$1.37 ₸645

-5.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₸892

$1.84 ₸865

2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₸907

$1.90 ₸896

1.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₸885

$1.88 ₸887

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸255

$0.56 ₸262

-3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸191

$0.37 ₸176

10.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₸467

$0.96 ₸450

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸360

$0.74 ₸349

2.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸931

$1.90 ₸897

4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.11 ₸1,934

$9.54 ₸4,490

-56.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸435

$0.97 ₸456

-5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₸747

$1.68 ₸790

-5.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸84.6

$0.23 ₸109

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 ₸6,967

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₸360

$1.80 ₸845

-57.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ₸180

$0.71 ₸334

-46.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ₸1,620

$4.32 ₸2,032

-20.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 ₸213

$0.51 ₸239

-11.76%

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

$20.3K ₸9.5M

-0.06%

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

$21.3K ₸10.0M

$25.2K ₸11.9M

-15.61%

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

$50.1 ₸23.6K

$53.3 ₸25.1K

-5.90%

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

$7.87 ₸3,708

$8.34 ₸3,925

-5.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.73 ₸3,642

$13.70 ₸6,449

-43.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.02 ₸15.1K

$51.0 ₸24.0K

-37.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ₸5,160

Cinema Ticket

$3.84 ₸1,806

$5.22 ₸2,459

-26.44%

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

$211 ₸99.1K

$239 ₸112.6K

-11.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,944 ₸2.3M

$4,800 ₸2.3M

3.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.76 ₸11.2K

$57.4 ₸27.0K

-58.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 ₸18.1K

$35.08 ₸16.5K

9.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 ₸46.4K

$87.6 ₸41.2K

12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 ₸27.3K

$87.7 ₸41.3K

-33.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 ₸111.8K

$467 ₸219.8K

-49.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.7 ₸46.5K

$323 ₸151.9K

-69.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸187.3K

$860 ₸405.1K

-53.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₸84.1K

$587 ₸276.5K

-69.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$812 ₸382.6K

$1,409 ₸663.5K

-42.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$563 ₸265.3K

$1,013 ₸477.2K

-44.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 ₸124.4K

$845 ₸398.0K

-68.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.25

16.12

0.81%

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

Last update for Taraz: July 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Taraz versus $467 in Astana. 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 220% higher in Astana, 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 $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $177 – 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $555 in Taraz, $892 in Astana – roughly 61% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $832 per month in Taraz and $1,338 in Astana. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Taraz 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 9% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $555 in Taraz and $892 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 $555 in Taraz to $892 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 Taraz. 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.