Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Malaybalay

For one person, living is cheaper in Malaybalay: $756 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Malaybalay
🇵🇭 Philippines
$756
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Malaybalay

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 Malaybalay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $756 in Malaybalay, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Malaybalay $756

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $1,182 in Malaybalay, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Malaybalay $1,182

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $1,607 in Malaybalay, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Malaybalay $1,607

Almaty costs about 81% more than Malaybalay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Malaybalay is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,949
$4.89 ₱308
169.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.3K
$16.45 ₱1,035
172.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,022
$3.51 ₱221
153.56%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,469
$2.18 ₱137
49.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸639
$0.49 ₱31.14
187.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸399
$0.33 ₱20.93
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,513
$1.13 ₱71.2
196.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,827
$1.92 ₱121
110.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸762
$2.02 ₱127
-16.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.13 ₱71.2
-23.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸917
$0.88 ₱55.2
130.68%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,100
$1.87 ₱118
29.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,632
$6.41 ₱404
94.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,033
$4.87 ₱307
37.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,905
$9.06 ₱570
19.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸813
$2.77 ₱175
-35.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,018
$1.07 ₱67.2
110.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,314
$2.39 ₱150
21.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,243
$1.14 ₱71.8
141.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$1.96 ₱123
-61.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$3.39 ₱213
-83.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸732
$1.20 ₱75.3
35.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸474
$0.66 ₱41.82
59.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,167
$2.47 ₱156
4.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,042
$7.77 ₱489
43.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$1.27 ₱80.1
-4.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,104
$1.62 ₱102
50.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.22 ₱13.60
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,957
$10.70 ₱674
105.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸611
$0.84 ₱52.9
60.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.23 ₱14.40
178.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,044
$1.90 ₱119
487.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸324
$1.27 ₱80.2
-43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$21.6K ₱1.4M
4.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$19.0K ₱1.2M
59.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.5K
$109 ₱6,856
-15.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,820
$19.33 ₱1,217
-44.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,072
$31.17 ₱1,962
-42.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.8K
$30.01 ₱1,890
134.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
$4.18 ₱263
560.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,064
$4.86 ₱306
39.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.9K
$106 ₱6,689
322.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$7,589 ₱477.8K
59.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.7K
$33.02 ₱2,079
172.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.3K
$19.31 ₱1,216
143.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.1K
$70.7 ₱4,451
100.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.0K
$60.7 ₱3,821
118.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.7K
$279 ₱17.5K
188.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.9K
$173 ₱10.9K
189.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸645.9K
$441 ₱27.8K
223.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.8K
$403 ₱25.4K
124.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
$2,200 ₱138.5K
13.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸704.7K
$1,006 ₱63.4K
54.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Malaybalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸393.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
8.31
148.50%

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

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Malaybalay
$173 65.5% $327
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Malaybalay
$199 20.4% $51
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Malaybalay
$89 56.8% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Malaybalay
$83 55.4% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Malaybalay
$159 32.5% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Malaybalay
$40 52.6% $44
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Malaybalay
$14 50.9% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $279 in Malaybalay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $16.00 in Malaybalay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $199 – making Malaybalay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇵🇭 Malaybalay
🕒 Local time
01:19 1:19 AM
03:19 3:19 AM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
190,712
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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 Malaybalay 6,080 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Malaybalay

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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malaybalay cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 81%, 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 $1,134 in Malaybalay. 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 Malaybalay, 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 Malaybalay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $16.00 in Malaybalay. 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 Malaybalay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $756 in Malaybalay. That's a gap of about 81%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Malaybalay?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malaybalay, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Malaybalay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Malaybalay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Malaybalay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Malaybalay. 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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