Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Lipa

For one person, living is cheaper in Lipa: $607 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Lipa
🇵🇭 Philippines
$607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Lipa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Almaty and in Lipa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $607 in Lipa, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Lipa $607

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $937 in Lipa, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Lipa $937

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $1,268 in Lipa, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Lipa $1,268

Almaty costs about 126% more than Lipa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Lipa is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,949
$3.14 ₱198
319.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.3K
$16.01 ₱1,008
180.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,022
$2.75 ₱173
223.64%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,469
$1.80 ₱113
80.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸639
$0.45 ₱28.54
213.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸399
$0.30 ₱19.15
193.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,513
$1.02 ₱64.5
228.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,827
$1.60 ₱101
152.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸762
$1.47 ₱92.7
14.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.15 ₱72.5
-25.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸917
$0.87 ₱54.8
133.33%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,100
$1.68 ₱106
44.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,632
$4.98 ₱314
150.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,033
$3.39 ₱213
97.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,905
$7.99 ₱503
35.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸813
$2.29 ₱144
-21.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,018
$1.60 ₱101
40.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,314
$2.34 ₱147
24.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,243
$1.07 ₱67.6
157.01%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$1.66 ₱105
-54.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$1.70 ₱107
-67.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸732
$0.65 ₱41.18
149.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸474
$0.49 ₱30.96
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,167
$2.88 ₱181
-10.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,042
$8.96 ₱564
24.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$0.99 ₱62.1
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,104
$2.01 ₱126
21.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.25 ₱15.65
4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,957
$4.81 ₱303
358.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸611
$0.70 ₱43.83
92.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.23 ₱14.48
178.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,044
$1.90 ₱119
487.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸324
$1.11 ₱69.9
-35.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$21.3K ₱1.3M
5.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$15.9K ₱1.0M
90.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.5K
$138 ₱8,711
-33.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,820
$17.20 ₱1,083
-38.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,072
$23.11 ₱1,455
-22.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.8K
$32.15 ₱2,024
118.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
$3.93 ₱247
602.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,064
$4.94 ₱311
37.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.9K
$133 ₱8,392
236.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$10.6K ₱670.2K
13.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.7K
$28.59 ₱1,800
214.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.3K
$19.30 ₱1,215
143.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.1K
$71.5 ₱4,504
98.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.0K
$55.5 ₱3,496
139.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.7K
$80.4 ₱5,061
900.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.9K
$61.6 ₱3,881
710.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸645.9K
$251 ₱15.8K
469.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.8K
$181 ₱11.4K
399.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Lipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸393.3K
$225 ₱14.2K
285.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
6
244.17%

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

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lipa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Lipa
$62 87.7% $438
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Lipa
$172 31.4% $78
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Lipa
$66 67.6% $139
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Lipa
$79 57.5% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Lipa
$179 48.5% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Lipa
$42 49.9% $42
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Lipa
$7.7 72.3% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $80.4 in Lipa. 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 286% 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 $16.00 in Lipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $172 – making Lipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇵🇭 Lipa
🕒 Local time
05:05 5:05 AM
07:05 7:05 AM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
332,386
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Lipa 5,310 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Lipa

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
Almaty vs Lipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lipa cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 126%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,058 per month in Almaty and $910 in Lipa. 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 Lipa, 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 Lipa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $16.00 in Lipa. 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 Lipa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $607 in Lipa. That's a gap of about 126%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Lipa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lipa, where all-in costs run around $607, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Lipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Lipa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lipa – 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 Lipa?
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 Lipa. 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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