For one person, living is cheaper in Kazakhstan: $1,045 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Kazakhstan
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Kazakhstan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,701 per month in the United States vs $1,045 in Kazakhstan, rent included.
United States $2,701
Kazakhstan $1,045
A couple spends around $3,980 per month in the United States vs $1,649 in Kazakhstan, rent included.
United States $3,980
Kazakhstan $1,649
A family of three spends $5,258 per month in the United States vs $2,252 in Kazakhstan, rent included.
United States $5,258
Kazakhstan $2,252
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($980–$5,162) than in Kazakhstan ($628–$1,372), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 158% higher than in Kazakhstan on average.
📊
The United States sits 100% above the global median, while Kazakhstan is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92$19.92
$10.93₸4,939
82.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0$81.0
$40.15₸18.1K
101.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.07$12.07
$7.71₸3,485
56.55%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
$2.53₸1,145
119.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$1.16₸526
130.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.67₸304
211.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96$5.96
$1.51₸685
294.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.76$7.76
$2.46₸1,111
215.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.43₸648
-26.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55$3.55
$0.53₸242
569.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$1.62₸733
186.42%
Eggs
$4.18$4.18
$2.03₸916
105.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76$12.76
$11.06₸4,998
15.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.63$12.63
$5.65₸2,552
123.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.22$17.22
$9.39₸4,246
83.39%
Apples(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$1.56₸703
230.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$2.20₸996
-25.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$2.49₸1,125
79.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.98$4.98
$2.21₸1,001
125.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84$2.84
$0.75₸339
278.67%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09$3.09
$0.52₸236
494.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19$2.19
$1.32₸597
65.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$0.95₸428
138.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.61$10.61
$2.49₸1,127
326.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.71$14.71
$8.72₸3,941
68.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.19₸538
76.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82$3.82
$2.01₸907
90.05%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35$2.35
$0.25₸114
840.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.1$64.1
$17.43₸7,881
267.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$1.08₸490
230.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85$1.85
$0.85₸386
117.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.19$30.19
$6.56₸2,967
360.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$0.63₸285
69.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K$35.3K
$24.0K₸10.9M
46.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$29.9K₸13.5M
-13.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217$217
$68.6₸31.0K
215.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.4$61.4
$10.60₸4,790
478.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4$74.4
$16.34₸7,385
355.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.08$45.08
$49.02₸22.2K
-8.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.07$23.07
$21.34₸9,648
8.11%
Cinema Ticket
$14.79$14.79
$5.40₸2,442
173.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,480$1,480
$324₸146.5K
356.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.5K$25.5K
$10.3K₸4.6M
148.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0$53.0
$67.0₸30.3K
-20.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75$42.75
$48.00₸21.7K
-10.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3$94.3
$120₸54.4K
-21.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$108₸48.9K
6.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,678$1,678
$502₸227.0K
234.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,313$1,313
$337₸152.5K
289.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,649$2,649
$887₸400.9K
198.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,183$2,183
$593₸267.9K
268.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,374$3,374
$1,502₸679.2K
124.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,661$2,661
$1,072₸484.5K
148.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Kazakhstan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,404$4,404
$680₸307.6K
547.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
19.08
-65.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026
Last update for Kazakhstan: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K 48.6%
Kazakhstan
$337 32.3% ↓ 74.3%$976
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$411 15.2%
Kazakhstan
$213 20.4% ↓ 48.1%$198
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$352 13%
Kazakhstan
$96 9.2% ↓ 72.9%$257
🍽Eating Out
United States
$327 12.1%
Kazakhstan
$161 15.4% ↓ 50.8%$166
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5.1%
Kazakhstan
$155 14.8% ↑ 12.5%$17
🚌Getting Around
United States
$86 3.2%
Kazakhstan
$24 2.3% ↓ 72.4%$62
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.8%
Kazakhstan
$60 5.7% ↓ 19.9%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.5%
Kazakhstan
$593 26.3% ↓ 72.8%$1.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$942 17.9%
Kazakhstan
$491 21.8% ↓ 47.9%$451
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$414 7.9%
Kazakhstan
$106 4.7% ↓ 74.3%$308
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Kazakhstan
$530 23.5% ↓ 50.2%$535
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.8%
Kazakhstan
$344 15.3% ↑ 12.5%$38
🚌Getting Around
United States
$177 3.4%
Kazakhstan
$48 2.1% ↓ 72.9%$129
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$172 3.3%
Kazakhstan
$141 6.3% ↓ 18.2%$31
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,609 in the United States vs $385 in Kazakhstan. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,730 in Washington, DC and $578 in Astana.
💰Average salary: $4,533 in the United States vs $555 in Kazakhstan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 318% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 134% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 717% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Kazakhstan10,140 km≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Kazakhstan
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United States vs Kazakhstan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kazakhstan more expensive than the United States?
Kazakhstan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 158% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $385 in Kazakhstan.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Kazakhstan, adding to the overall 158% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Kazakhstan or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Kazakhstan, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Kazakhstan or to the United States?
Kazakhstan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared