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Tengrinews.kz – Almaty has topped the list of the most expensive cities in Central Asia, according to the latest update from Numbeo’s cost of living index.
The city ranks 346th globally, with a cost of living index of 29.4. Astana follows closely, ranked 366th with an index of 26.5. For comparison, Bishkek ranked 364th with an index of 26.8, and Tashkent ranked 370th with 26.2. Cities in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are not represented in the ranking.
According to Numbeo, the average monthly expenses for a family of four (excluding rent) amount to approximately 967,500 tenge, while for an individual it’s 271,300 tenge. Overall, the cost of living in Kazakhstan is about 60% lower than in the U.S., and rent is approximately 75% cheaper.
Experts also focused on the purchasing power index. Over the past five years, both major Kazakh cities have shown growth: Astana reached 59.4 points (compared to 45.3 in 2020), and Almaty reached 55.9 points (compared to 36.3). This is higher than Tashkent (49.3) and Bishkek (40.4), but still significantly lower than in Moscow and Minsk, where residents can afford more goods and services.
Experts note that while Kazakhstan remains relatively affordable for foreigners, the lower indices for locals suggest a lower income level. Despite this, Kazakh cities are steadily improving their positions and narrowing the gap with other countries in the region.
In the spring of this year, Kazakhstan was ranked the leader in terms of quality of life in Central Asia, coming in 70th globally. Turkmenistan ranked 96th, Uzbekistan 108th, Kyrgyzstan 119th, and Tajikistan 128th.
The quality of life ranking considered factors such as life expectancy, education level, political stability, per capita income, and access to opportunities.
Globally, the most expensive cities are led by six cities in Switzerland: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lugano, and Bern. Life in these cities is 3.4%–12.5% more expensive than in New York.
On the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest cities are located in India and Pakistan, with Surat, India, being the least expensive with a cost of living index of 18.7.
