Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Almaty 2025

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Almaty

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Almaty?

A single person in Almaty spends around 290,000 KZT per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 40,000 KZT or as high as 1.9M KZT. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Almaty

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Almaty

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Almaty spend around 82% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 75% of their income while some as high as 92%.

How do individuals spend their money in Almaty?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Almaty typically spend from 18% to 42% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 30% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 100,000 KZT with expenditure ranging from 14,000 KZT to 690,000 KZT. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Almaty ranges from 5% to 14% of total expenses with 9% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 17,000 KZT with 2,400 KZT and 110,000 KZT being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 3,200 KZT to 150,000 KZT in a month on commuting with 23,000 KZT being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Almaty is 46,000 KZT. The cost of groceries can range between 6,400 KZT to 300,000 KZT. Individuals spend on average about 19% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 24% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Almaty allocate 6% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 12%. The range of medical expenses range from 3,600 KZT to 170,000 KZT with 26,000 KZT being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 2,000 KZT to 95,000 KZT with 14,000 KZT being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 5% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 5,700 KZT per month with 800 KZT being the minimum spent amount and 38,000 KZT being the maximum.

What percentage of individuals in Almaty are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 67% of surveyed individuals in Almaty said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 33% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 16% to 37% of their monthly income to their savings, with 26% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 94,000 KZT with 10,000 KZT and 620,000 KZT being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Almaty

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Almaty. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of individuals blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for individuals in Almaty

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Almaty

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Almaty?

Around 63% of surveyed individuals think that living in Almaty is affordable with proper budgeting while 37% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Almaty

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options63%

Few low-cost options37%

Based on the survey, 63% of the individuals living in Almaty have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked individuals of Almaty whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes63%

No37%

Based on the survey, 37% of the individuals living in Almaty said that they don't have an emergency fund while 63% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Kazakhstan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy53%

We asked individuals in Almaty whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 47% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 53% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether single people of Kazakhstan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 37% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 63% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance37%

Easily manages finances63%

Financial goals of individuals in Almaty

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Almaty, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 42% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Almaty

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the individuals in Almaty have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Almaty

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 32% of a single person's monthly income in Almaty goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Almaty pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 18% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Almaty

8% of debtors in Almaty confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 15% of people and personal loans rose at 43%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Almaty.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Almaty

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals of Almaty how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Almaty

Rent Cost in Almaty

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

35,000 KZT

53,000 KZT

140,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$78

$120

$310

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

53,000 KZT

84,000 KZT

210,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120

$190

$470

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

70,000 KZT

110,000 KZT

280,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160

$240

$630

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

84,000 KZT

140,000 KZT

380,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$310

$860

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

170,000 KZT

420,000 KZT

840,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$940

$1,900

Townhouse monthly rent cost

140,000 KZT

210,000 KZT

600,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$470

$1,300

House monthly rent cost

170,000 KZT

420,000 KZT

840,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$940

$1,900

Villa monthly rent cost

210,000 KZT

530,000 KZT

840,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470

$1,200

$1,900

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Almaty ranges between 35,000 KZT and 140,000 KZT, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 53,000 KZT to 210,000 KZT. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 70,000 KZT and 280,000 KZT per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 84,000 KZT to 380,000 KZT. The average rent of a townhouse in Almaty is around 210,000 KZT while house rental costs can be as high as 420,000 KZT per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 210,000 KZT to 840,000 KZT per month.

Apartment and house prices in Almaty

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

7M KZT

11M KZT

21M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16,000

$24,000

$47,000

1-bedroom apartment price

8.4M KZT

14M KZT

53M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19,000

$31,000

$120,000

2-bedroom apartment price

14M KZT

42M KZT

84M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$31,000

$94,000

$190,000

3-bedroom apartment price

47M KZT

70M KZT

210M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100,000

$160,000

$470,000

Townhouse price

60M KZT

140M KZT

530M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$310,000

$1.2M

House price

70M KZT

420M KZT

600M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160,000

$940,000

$1.3M

Villa price

84M KZT

470M KZT

700M KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190,000

$1M

$1.6M

The average price of a studio apartment in Almaty can range from 7M KZT to 21M KZT depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 8.4M KZT to 53M KZT. A villa can cost you 470M KZT on average with prices ranging from 84M KZT to 700M KZT.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Almaty can be x118 to x222 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x118 multiples of the average monthly salary in Almaty.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Almaty is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 45% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Almaty

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Almaty

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

2,400 KZT

17,000 KZT

110,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.4

$38

$260

Internet and cable cost

1,900 KZT

3,800 KZT

5,100 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.3

$8.5

$11

Mobile phone bill and charges

1,500 KZT

2,600 KZT

7,700 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$5.7

$17

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 17,000 KZT. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,900 KZT to 5,100 KZT with 3,800 KZT being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,600 KZT but can range between 1,500 KZT and 7,700 KZT depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Almaty is around 6.5%. This means that people pay 6.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.3% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Almaty

Prices and cost of goods and services in Almaty

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

380 KZT

770 KZT

1,300 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.85

$1.7

$2.8

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Almaty is approximatly 770 KZT with meal cost ranging from 380 KZT to 1,300 KZT. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,300 KZT

2,000 KZT

4,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3

$4.5

$9

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,300 KZT and 4,000 KZT with 2,000 KZT being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Almaty.

Fine dining meal for one price

2,700 KZT

4,000 KZT

16,000 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6

$9

$36

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,700 KZT to 16,000 KZT with the average cost being 4,000 KZT for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Almaty.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

320 KZT

510 KZT

770 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.71

$1.1

$1.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Almaty is around 510 KZT. Price ranges between 320 KZT and 770 KZT depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

260 KZT

310 KZT

380 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.57

$0.68

$0.85

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Almaty is 310 KZT. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 380 KZT and the minimum being 260 KZT depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

190 KZT

260 KZT

380 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.43

$0.57

$0.85

A dozen eggs costs around 260 KZT on average with 190 KZT and 380 KZT being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

430 KZT

560 KZT

800 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.97

$1.3

$1.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Almaty is between 430 KZT and 800 KZT depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 560 KZT.

Pack of beef price

510 KZT

770 KZT

1,500 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.7

$3.4

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 770 KZT. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

210 KZT

280 KZT

400 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.46

$0.63

$0.89

A bag of rice in Almaty costs around 280 KZT on average with prices rangeing between 210 KZT and 400 KZT depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

77 KZT

100 KZT

190 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.17

$0.23

$0.43

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 77 KZT to 190 KZT. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

140 KZT

180 KZT

290 KZT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.40

$0.66

A bag of apples costs 180 KZT on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Almaty is around 28%. This means that individuals spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals