How Much Does It Cost to Live In Astana?
This windy city in Kazakhstan, even though is not exactly a tourist destination, is actually very young.
As for the cost of living, it could be said that life in Astana, generally, is cheaper.
The prices in this city are very reasonable in most aspects (and especially if this is not the city where you work and earn your money).
The only costly thing in this country, in comparison to the people’s average salaries, is the rent.
Supermarkets and local restaurants are mostly cheap which makes living there much easier.
Kazakhstan : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Prices in Astana are mostly reasonable when it comes to restaurants. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you a bit more than 5$, while a mid-range restaurant of sorts will offer you food for two for around 23$. You should be fine when it comes to spending money in restaurants, as long as you don’t eat there three times a day.
MARKETS
You can save a bunch of money if you shop at open markets that pop up a few days a week, and here you can both find some fresh groceries and have a good time spending time with local vendors. Prices in markets are also very reasonable, especially if you go shopping for groceries in market chains such as Gros and Ramstore.
TRANSPORTATION
The transportation not a bargain in Astana, and again, it is definitely not cheap in comparison to the service you’re getting. However, in comparison to first world countries, it is cheap enough. A one-way ticket for public transport costs a very reasonable 0.40$ which is more than in Almaty, while monthly ticket is cheaper than in Almaty.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
If you’re living in an apartment that is on a larger side in Astana, (we’re talking around 85m2), your utilities will be much cheaper than in, for instance, Almaty, as you’ll be expected to pay somewhere around 60$ a month. Internet is literally a bargain – 10$ a month for a high quality service.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports, fitness and gym costs more or less the same across Kazakhstan. This is why cinema tickets cost around 4$ as in most other cities of Kazakhstan, which means that if your plans include taking someone to see a movie, you should set aside around 10$. Membership in a gym or fitness club is somewhere around 50$.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Clothing and shoes aren’t as cheap as everything else in this city. You can find quality jeans like Levi’s that cost less than 70$ which is the same as in European tourist destinations, and simple shirt costing 40$ is definitely expensive. Quality sneakers cost a bit above 80$ which also not far from the European and American level.
RENT PER MONTH
Rent might not be perceived as high when you look at the price of rent in European tourist destinations like Italy or France. But if you take a look at Kazakhstan’s minimum wage or average monthly salaries, you will see why rent is considered very expensive in this city. An apartment in the city center costs a little more than 300$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Astana
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $6.66 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.47 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.36 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.71 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.31 |
| Eggs (12) | $0.94 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.40 |
| Monthly Pass | $18.84 |
| Gasoline | $0.44 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $46.89 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.03 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $11.23 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $51.94 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.73 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.00 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $68.35 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $37.67 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $81.22 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $335.58 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $240.83 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $642.26 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Astana?
The average person in Astana, like in other cities of Kazakhstan, spends most of their money in supermarkets, open markets and other chain stores where you can buy food.
The rent is, however, the next on the list of expenses, because when you look at average monthly salaries, they are really high.
Restaurants are third on the list of most common expenses in Astana, along with transportation that has to be paid and is and everyday necessity for everyone who wants to get anywhere in Astana.
A bigger part of one’s salary is spent on clothing then on utilities.
Average Costs Breakdown
Astana: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
A minimum wage in Astana is as low as 111.3$ which really puts into perspective the price of rent in this country.
Those who don’t have high salaries will have a hard time affording anything else after paying their rent fees.
Average monthly net salary is around 400$, so those who earn that much money and also have to pay their rent, will also have a hard time making ends meet,
If you want to spend a month in Astana, around 1000$ would definitely suffice and you wouldn’t even have to be thrifty.
Cost of Living by City in Astana
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Almaty | 32.51 |
