ASTANA – The subsistence minimum in Kazakhstan reached 26,468 tenge (US$77.8) in May, increasing 14 percent increase within a year, reports finprom.kz. The figure in May 2017 was 23,218 tenge (US$68.26).
The subsistence level corresponds with the population’s minimum consumer basket of goods and services, including food products (55 percent) and non-food products (45 percent), according to the Kazakh law.
The highest subsistence level in Kazakhstan is in the oil rich Mangystau region with 32,300 tenge (US$94.96). Next is the country’s capital Astana, where the figure totals 30,600 tenge (US$89.96), followed by the country’s largest city Almaty with the subsistence minimum reaching 29,900 tenge (US$87.9).
The report indicates the figure increases on average by 9.7 percent each year. Between 2012 and 2017, the subsistence minimum rose 7,000 tenge (US$20.58) from 16,800 (US$49.39) to 23,800 tenge (US$69.97).
The subsistence minimum for children was 21,435 tenge (US$63). The figure reached 31,440 tenge (US$92.43) for men and24,968 tenge (US$73.4) for women.
Basic necessities for retired and elderly people cost 24,753 tenge (US$72.77), said the report.
Within the subsistence minimum structure, spending on meat and fish account for 19.8 percent, dairy and eggs – 15.3 percent, fruits and vegetables – 10.5 percent, bread and grits – 7.3 percent and sugar, tea and spices – 2.1 percent.
