Cost of food baskets across various cities in Kazakhstan
In a recent analysis of food prices across Kazakhstan, it was found that the cost of socially significant food products varies significantly depending on the region. The data, while not comprehensive, provides some insight into the price differences of various food items in various cities.
White cabbage, for instance, is cheapest in Turkestan at 153 tenge, while carrots are most affordable in Petropavlovsk at 130 tenge. However, bread made from first-grade wheat flour, which is cheapest in Petropavlovsk at 166 tenge per kilogram, sees the highest price in Almaty at 262 tenge. First-grade wheat flour, too, follows a similar trend, with Petropavlovsk offering the lowest price at 150 tenge, and Aktau recording the highest at 315 tenge.
Dairy products also show a pattern, with a liter of pasteurized milk with 2.5% fat being the cheapest in Kokshetau at 335 tenge, and the most expensive in Zhezkazgan at 461 tenge. A liter of sunflower oil is the most affordable in Kyzylorda at 712 tenge, yet it is the most expensive in Zhezkazgan at 866 tenge.
Buckwheat groats are the cheapest in Pavlodar at 155 tenge per kilogram, but they are the most expensive in Taldykorgan at 226 tenge. Meanwhile, sugar in Oral costs 384 tenge per kilogram, and salt is the cheapest in Turkestan at 58 tenge per kilogram.
Eggs of the 1st grade are the most expensive in Atyrau at 462 tenge per dozen, while a kilogram of polished rice is the cheapest in Kyzylorda at 362 tenge, and the most expensive is in Semey at 478 tenge.
Interestingly, dairy alternatives like a liter of kefir with 2.5% fat is the cheapest in Taldykorgan at 358 tenge, but it is the most expensive in Zhezkazgan at 498 tenge. Curd, on the other hand, is the most expensive in Aktau at 2849 tenge per kilogram, and the cheapest in Taldykorgan at 1628 tenge per kilogram.
Potatoes are the cheapest in Karagandy at 178 tenge per kilogram, and weighted macaroni is the cheapest in Petropavlovsk at 254 tenge per kilogram, but it is the most expensive in Atyrau at 382 tenge.
Meat products also show a pattern, with beef (shoulder and chest part) being the cheapest in Turkestan at 2600 tenge per kilogram, and chicken meat being the cheapest in Konaev at 1213 tenge per kilogram.
It's important to note that Kazakhstan experienced an annual inflation rate of 11.8% in June 2025, with food prices rising at an annual pace of 10.6%. This inflation increase affected the entire country but was notably higher in some cities: Almaty city (13.8%), Karaganda region (13.5%), and Astana (13.1%) saw food inflation rates above the national average.
The National Statistics Bureau has published new data on average prices for 19 main food items in cities of republican significance and regional centers of the country. However, the data does not provide a detailed breakdown of price comparisons for these food products by city within Kazakhstan. For more granular price data, it would be advisable to consult official Kazakhstan statistical bureau releases or market reports specific to food pricing by city.
In light of the increasing annual inflation rate of 11.8% in Kazakhstan, it would be beneficial for individuals to closely monitor their personal-finance budgeting, as food prices are significantly varying even among cities. For instance, a kilogram of first-grade wheat flour, which is currently the cheapest in Petropavlovsk, can increase to 262 tenge in Almaty.
