Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Guanajuato Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Guanajuato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,381 per month in Almaty vs $1,134 in Guanajuato, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,187 per month in Almaty vs $1,738 in Guanajuato, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,993 per month in Almaty vs $2,341 in Guanajuato, rent included.

Almaty costs about 22% more than Guanajuato, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Almaty sits 1% above the global median, while Guanajuato is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67 ₸6,092
$14.33 MX$246
-4.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.32 ₸20.2K
$49.94 MX$857
-9.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ₸3,902
$7.77 MX$133
12.74%
Cappuccino
$3.23 ₸1,441
$4.11 MX$70.6
-21.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₸599
$1.76 MX$30.26
-23.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₸414
$1.07 MX$18.39
-13.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₸1,230
$2.89 MX$49.61
-4.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 ₸1,825
$5.34 MX$91.6
-23.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ₸748
$1.66 MX$28.55
1.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 ₸374
$2.79 MX$47.83
-69.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ₸970
$1.58 MX$27.10
37.97%
Eggs
$2.50 ₸1,113
$2.58 MX$44.34
-3.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.57 ₸5,602
$4.97 MX$85.3
152.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₸3,013
$10.33 MX$177
-34.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 ₸4,987
$12.56 MX$216
-10.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 ₸871
$2.88 MX$49.50
-31.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 ₸1,069
$1.75 MX$29.98
37.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 ₸1,294
$2.11 MX$36.15
37.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.86 ₸1,273
$1.73 MX$29.63
65.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ₸351
$2.09 MX$35.81
-62.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₸263
$1.93 MX$33.13
-69.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ₸762
$1.53 MX$26.34
11.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸443
$1.16 MX$19.93
-14.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 ₸1,146
$4.89 MX$83.9
-47.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸4,970
$11.52 MX$198
-3.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₸556
$1.92 MX$32.92
-34.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₸1,042
$3.50 MX$60.1
-33.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₸126
$0.62 MX$10.60
-54.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.71 ₸9,677
$29.47 MX$506
-26.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₸581
$2.35 MX$40.30
-44.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₸310
$1.43 MX$24.53
-51.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.27 ₸5,020
$9.06 MX$156
24.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 ₸302
$1.51 MX$25.96
-54.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ₸10.1M
$21.3K MX$365.3K
6.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K ₸13.4M
$25.3K MX$434.8K
18.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₸41.5K
$53.1 MX$911
75.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.81 ₸4,817
$21.23 MX$364
-49.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.01 ₸8,025
$30.10 MX$517
-40.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.4 ₸33.6K
$32.64 MX$560
131.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.99 ₸13.4K
$29.39 MX$504
2.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68 ₸2,977
$6.86 MX$118
-2.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$447 ₸199.1K
$217 MX$3,729
105.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₸5.3M
$6,028 MX$103.5K
97.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9 ₸41.0K
$61.9 MX$1,062
48.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.73 ₸20.8K
$38.68 MX$664
20.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 ₸62.9K
$80.9 MX$1,388
74.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸59.4K
$60.4 MX$1,036
120.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₸364.0K
$547 MX$9,393
49.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ₸222.5K
$322 MX$5,522
55.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,512 ₸674.0K
$826 MX$14.2K
83.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$918 ₸408.9K
$411 MX$7,055
123.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,535 ₸1.1M
$1,413 MX$24.2K
79.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ₸687.8K
$1,148 MX$19.7K
34.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Guanajuato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$875 ₸389.8K
$752 MX$12.9K
16.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.61
11.3
82.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Almaty: September 12, 2026

Last update for Guanajuato: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $547 in Guanajuato. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Almaty, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $50.0 in Guanajuato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $277 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Almaty vs Guanajuato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guanajuato cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,071 per month in Almaty and $1,701 in Guanajuato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guanajuato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Guanajuato?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $50.0 in Guanajuato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Guanajuato?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,381 in Almaty and $1,134 in Guanajuato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Guanajuato?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Guanajuato, where all-in costs run around $1,134, than in Almaty at $1,381. In Guanajuato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Guanajuato more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guanajuato – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Guanajuato?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guanajuato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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