Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Guayaquil Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Guayaquil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $1,109 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,765 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $2,422 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Almaty costs about 23% more than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Guayaquil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,921

$4.12 $4.12

213.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.6K

$52.7 $52.7

-14.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,943

$9.10 $9.10

-5.38%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,441

$2.81 $2.81

12.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸609

$0.90 $0.90

47.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸374

$0.71 $0.71

15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,111

$2.98 $2.98

-18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,794

$4.55 $4.55

-13.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸754

$1.16 $1.16

42.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸369

$2.00 $2.00

-59.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸955

$1.45 $1.45

43.45%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,055

$2.07 $2.07

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,602

$7.11 $7.11

72.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,049

$5.01 $5.01

32.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,916

$9.20 $9.20

16.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸848

$1.52 $1.52

21.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,081

$1.19 $1.19

98.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,327

$0.99 $0.99

192.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,269

$0.90 $0.90

207.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸345

$1.28 $1.28

-41.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸262

$0.91 $0.91

-37.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸731

$0.82 $0.82

95.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸444

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,179

$6.04 $6.04

-57.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,927

$12.10 $12.10

-11.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸536

$1.49 $1.49

-21.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,090

$2.20 $2.20

8.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.34 $0.34

-26.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,644

$19.66 $19.66

7.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸608

$2.80 $2.80

-52.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸289

$1.72 $1.72

-63.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,998

$12.19 $12.19

-10.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸309

$0.83 $0.83

-19.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K ₸12.0M

$21.1K $21.1K

24.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.5K ₸13.5M

$30.7K $30.7K

-3.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$90.4 ₸41.4K

$127 $127

-28.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.95 ₸5,016

$14.97 $14.97

-26.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸8,003

$25.14 $25.14

-30.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.4K

$46.01 $46.01

63.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.4K

$26.48 $26.48

10.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,896

$7.72 $7.72

-18.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 ₸194.9K

$407 $407

4.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$5,935 $5,935

95.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.7K

$65.6 $65.6

32.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.4K

$40.34 $40.34

15.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.7K

$123 $123

13.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.7K

$91.5 $91.5

44.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸362.3K

$461 $461

71.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸228.0K

$399 $399

24.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸656.1K

$803 $803

78.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸418.0K

$738 $738

23.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$2,333 $2,333

4.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸689.1K

$1,437 $1,437

4.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸389.2K

$611 $611

39.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

10.05

105.07%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $461 in Guayaquil. 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 39% 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 $53.0 in Guayaquil. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Almaty vs $200 in Guayaquil – so Guayaquil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,663 in Guayaquil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guayaquil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $53.0 in Guayaquil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,364 in Almaty and $1,109 in Guayaquil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guayaquil, where all-in costs run around $1,109, than in Almaty at $1,364. In Guayaquil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guayaquil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Guayaquil. 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.