Almaty becomes most expensive city in CA

Almaty has been recognized as the most expensive city in Central Asia, El.kz reports citing Finprom.

As of June 2025, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis ranked 346th in the global cost of living index (39.4 points), outpacing its regional neighbors. Astana, with an index of 26.5, was positioned alongside Bishkek (26.8) and Tashkent (26.2), nearly matching the figures of Minsk (26.4).

Swiss cities traditionally topped the list of the most expensive places to live — Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lugano, and Bern — where the cost of living exceeds that of New York by 3% to 12.5%.

When factoring in housing rent, the picture shifts slightly. New York takes the absolute lead (100 points) due to its high rental prices — over $4,200 for a one-bedroom apartment. In comparison, Zurich and Geneva are 6–9% cheaper than the American metropolis.

Almaty, with a score of 22.9, remains more expensive than Tashkent (21.1), Bishkek (20.2), and Astana (19.7). Moscow (39.2) and Yerevan (31) are the most expensive cities in the region by this measure.