In the second quarter of 2026, Kazakhstan's subsistence minimum reached 67,618 tenge per capita, up 5.4% over three months and 20.3% year-on-year. The Bureau of National Statistics published updated regional subsistence minimum data, according to infohub.kz.
Analysts estimate that 55% of this amount — about 37,190 tenge — should go to food products, while the remaining 45%, or 30,428 tenge, should cover essential goods and paid services. The subsistence minimum defines the amount needed by an average Kazakhstani to meet basic needs — in other words, a "survival basket."
Because the subsistence minimum depends on the cost of the food basket, and food prices vary by region, the minimum amount needed to live differs significantly across the country's regions.
The highest subsistence minimum in the second quarter of 2026 was recorded in Almaty — 75,203 tenge per person per month. It was followed by Mangystau (73,671 tenge) and Almaty (71,332 tenge) regions. In Astana, the subsistence minimum stood at 69,917 tenge, and in Shymkent at 65,999 tenge. The lowest figure was recorded in West Kazakhstan region — 57,517 tenge.
The largest annual increase was in Almaty (+28.2%), as well as Kyzylorda (+26.8%) and Zhambyl (+25.4%) regions.
Notably, the subsistence minimum varies not only by region. It is calculated separately for women and men, as well as for each age group. On average, for working-age men, the minimum amount needed to live was set at 80,519 tenge per month. For women, the figure is 63,933 tenge.
For pensioners, the subsistence minimum is 63,422 tenge, and for children under 13 — 53,645 tenge. For young men aged 14 to 17, the amount is 85,613 tenge, and for young women — 65,598 tenge.
The Bureau of National Statistics also published the subsistence minimum for the first half of 2026 — 65,886 tenge per person per month.
Earlier, we reported on how the incomes of Kazakhstanis changed in the second quarter of 2026. Recently, analysts calculated the poverty level: Kazakhstan currently has more than 1 million low-income citizens. And you can learn how the country's economy has changed over the past 7 years here.