Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Albay and Almaty
For one person, living is cheaper in Albay: $740 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Albay and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $740 in Albay versus $1,372 in Almaty.
Albay $740
Almaty $1,372
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Albay versus $2,142 in Almaty.
Albay $1,099
Almaty $2,142
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,457 in Albay versus $2,913 in Almaty.
Albay $1,457
Almaty $2,913
🌍
Living in Albay costs roughly 46% less than in Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Albay is 45% below, Almaty is 2% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98₱250
$13.16₸5,949
-69.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.00₱1,070
$44.86₸20.3K
-62.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.72₱171
$8.90₸4,022
-69.44%
Cappuccino
$2.27₱143
$3.25₸1,469
-30.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62₱39.23
$1.41₸639
-56.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33₱21.01
$0.88₸399
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17₱73.6
$3.35₸1,513
-65.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97₱124
$4.04₸1,827
-51.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85₱116
$1.69₸762
9.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04₱65.2
$0.86₸390
20.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86₱54.0
$2.03₸917
-57.64%
Eggs
$1.99₱125
$2.43₸1,100
-18.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.92₱310
$12.46₸5,632
-60.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.17₱263
$6.71₸3,033
-37.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.55₱413
$10.85₸4,905
-39.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71₱171
$1.80₸813
50.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58₱99.3
$2.25₸1,018
-29.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12₱133
$2.91₸1,314
-27.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03₱65.0
$2.75₸1,243
-62.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78₱112
$0.75₸337
137.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26₱142
$0.55₸248
310.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86₱53.9
$1.62₸732
-46.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.89
$1.05₸474
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67₱168
$2.58₸1,167
3.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.49₱472
$11.15₸5,042
-32.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10₱69.2
$1.21₸547
-9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88₱118
$2.44₸1,104
-22.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Albay
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱16.50
$0.26₸117
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.06₱634
$22.03₸9,957
-54.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68₱42.90
$1.35₸611
-49.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19₱11.90
$0.64₸288
-70.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.65₱104
$11.16₸5,044
-85.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₱87.1
$0.72₸324
91.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₱1.2M
$22.5K₸10.2M
-18.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K₱1.2M
$30.3K₸13.7M
-35.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115₱7,229
$91.8₸41.5K
25.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.40₱970
$10.66₸4,820
44.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.92₱1,632
$17.86₸8,072
45.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.20₱2,342
$70.3₸31.8K
-47.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.27₱332
$27.60₸12.5K
-80.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.34₱336
$6.78₸3,064
-21.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$133₱8,400
$449₸202.9K
-70.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,069₱445.1K
$12.1K₸5.5M
-41.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.70₱1,807
$89.9₸40.7K
-68.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.91₱1,254
$47.02₸21.3K
-57.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9₱4,587
$142₸64.1K
-48.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2₱3,160
$133₸60.0K
-62.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Albay
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230₱14.5K
$805₸363.7K
-71.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190₱11.9K
$500₸225.9K
-62.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489₱30.8K
$1,429₸645.9K
-65.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328₱20.6K
$904₸408.8K
-63.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,576₱162.2K
$2,503₸1.1M
2.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$959₱60.4K
$1,559₸704.7K
-38.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Albay
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163₱10.2K
$870₸393.3K
-81.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.79
20.65
-67.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Albay: October 11, 2026
Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Albay
$190 25.6%
Almaty
$500 36.4% ↑ 164%$310
🛒Groceries & Markets
Albay
$176 23.7%
Almaty
$250 18.3% ↑ 42.6%$75
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albay
$156 21.1%
Almaty
$120 8.8% ↓ 22.9%$36
🍽Eating Out
Albay
$81 10.9%
Almaty
$205 14.9% ↑ 154%$124
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Albay
$77 10.4%
Almaty
$185 13.5% ↑ 140%$108
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Albay
$48 6.5%
Almaty
$84 6.1% ↑ 75.2%$36
🚌Getting Around
Albay
$13 1.7%
Almaty
$28 2% ↑ 117%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
Albay
$328 22.5%
Almaty
$904 31.1% ↑ 176%$577
🛒Groceries & Markets
Albay
$412 28.3%
Almaty
$575 19.7% ↑ 39.6%$163
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albay
$172 11.8%
Almaty
$131 4.5% ↓ 23.6%$41
🍽Eating Out
Albay
$248 17%
Almaty
$640 22% ↑ 159%$393
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Albay
$172 11.8%
Almaty
$412 14.1% ↑ 140%$240
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Albay
$101 6.9%
Almaty
$195 6.7% ↑ 93.4%$94
🚌Getting Around
Albay
$26 1.8%
Almaty
$56 1.9% ↑ 114%$30
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Albay and $805 in Almaty. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Almaty pays 434% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Albay vs $45.00 in Almaty for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $250 per month, with Albay cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Albay vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Albay and in Almaty?
Albay and Almaty differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($740 vs $1,372 including rent). Albay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 434% lower in Almaty. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Albay and in Almaty?
Rent for a central apartment: $230 in Albay versus $805 in Almaty. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Almaty. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Albay – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $45.00 in Almaty. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $740 in Albay versus $1,372 in Almaty, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albay but tight or insufficient in Almaty. The gap between the two cities makes Albay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Albay and Almaty?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Albay or Almaty?
Expats usually find Albay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Almaty. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.