Almaty is the most expensive city in Central Asia. But in the global ranking, it is still cheap

According to the global platform Numbeo for the first half of 2026, Almaty ranked first among Central Asian cities in cost of living — ahead of Astana, Tashkent, Bishkek, and Dushanbe. However, in a global context, both Kazakh cities remain in the lower third of the ranking: the cost of living in Almaty is only 38.7% of the New York level. For residents — rising prices; for investors and expats — relative affordability.

In a nutshell

• In the ranking of 547 cities worldwide, Almaty took 409th place, Astana — 469th. Both cities are in the lower third globally in terms of cost of living.
• Almaty's cost of living index is 38.7 points (New York = 100). Astana — 32.8 points. The rent index in Almaty is 16.2, in Astana — 12.6.
• In the regional top five of Central Asia: Almaty → Astana → Tashkent → Bishkek → Dushanbe.
• The most expensive city in the world is Zurich (123.1 points). In the top 5 — George Town (Cayman Islands), Lucerne, Basel, Geneva.
• Numbeo considers prices for groceries, dining in cafes and restaurants, rental housing, and the real purchasing power of the population.

Almaty is more expensive than Astana — the gap is noticeable but not critical

The gap between the two Kazakh cities is significant: the cost of living index in Almaty is 5.9 points higher than in Astana, and rent is 3.6 points more expensive. The composite index including rent is 28.4 versus 23.6 in the capital.

In absolute terms, this is nearly a 20% difference — not insignificant, yet against the backdrop of global gaps between leading and lagging cities, this disparity appears moderate.

Almaty is traditionally more expensive due to its developed commercial infrastructure, higher private sector salaries, and a more saturated services market. Astana, despite its capital status and active construction, maintains a lower price level — partly due to a lower concentration of premium consumption.

Global context: expensive by Central Asian standards — cheap by European standards

409th place out of 547 means that 408 cities worldwide are more expensive than Almaty. A cost of living at 38.7% of New York's level is roughly on par with cities in Eastern Europe or less affluent Asian capitals. For a local resident earning in tenge, Almaty can feel like an expensive city — and rising prices confirm this. But for a foreign specialist or investor with income in dollars or euros, both Kazakh cities remain quite affordable.

This is a duality characteristic of rapidly growing economies: prices catch up with global levels faster than population incomes. As a result, the city becomes more expensive for locals while remaining attractive for newcomers.

Author's conclusion

Almaty's first place in Central Asia in terms of cost of living is both a signal of growth and a reminder of the gap. The city is becoming more expensive, outpacing its regional neighbors, but on a global scale it remains in the affordability zone. The question is whether the incomes of Kazakhstani residents are keeping up with rising prices — and so far, the answer is not obvious.