Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Pingtung city

For one person, living is cheaper in Pingtung city: $909 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Pingtung city
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$909
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Pingtung city

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

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $909 in Pingtung city, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Pingtung city $909

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $1,474 in Pingtung city, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Pingtung city $1,474

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $2,038 in Pingtung city, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Pingtung city $2,038

Almaty costs about 51% more than Pingtung city, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Pingtung city is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,949
$5.52 NT$179
138.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.3K
$31.64 NT$1,026
41.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,022
$4.71 NT$153
88.96%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,469
$2.87 NT$93.1
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸639
$0.98 NT$31.82
43.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸399
$0.68 NT$21.92
29.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,513
$1.54 NT$49.83
117.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,827
$2.52 NT$81.6
60.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸762
$3.22 NT$104
-47.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.91 NT$62.0
-54.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸917
$2.60 NT$84.2
-21.92%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,100
$2.65 NT$86.0
-8.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,632
$15.60 NT$506
-20.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,033
$8.06 NT$261
-16.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,905
$15.09 NT$489
-28.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸813
$4.33 NT$140
-58.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,018
$1.87 NT$60.7
20.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,314
$2.49 NT$80.8
16.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,243
$3.19 NT$104
-13.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$1.18 NT$38.37
-36.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$1.93 NT$62.7
-71.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸732
$2.33 NT$75.6
-30.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸474
$0.85 NT$27.60
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,167
$3.81 NT$123
-32.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,042
$15.42 NT$500
-27.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$1.55 NT$50.2
-21.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,104
$2.24 NT$72.5
8.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.49 NT$15.89
-46.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,957
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸611
$2.70 NT$87.5
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.74 NT$24.04
-13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,044
$6.40 NT$207
74.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸324
$1.03 NT$33.32
-30.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$34.1K NT$1.1M
-33.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$23.0K NT$746.1K
31.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.5K
$111 NT$3,590
-17.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,820
$15.11 NT$490
-29.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,072
$25.70 NT$833
-30.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,064
$9.58 NT$311
-29.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.9K
$344 NT$11.2K
30.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$14.0K NT$453.1K
-13.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.7K
$70.8 NT$2,297
27.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.3K
$31.23 NT$1,013
50.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.1K
$82.4 NT$2,670
72.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.0K
$104 NT$3,359
28.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.7K
$247 NT$8,018
225.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.9K
$155 NT$5,023
222.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸645.9K
$746 NT$24.2K
91.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.8K
$375 NT$12.2K
141.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Pingtung city
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸393.3K
$1,912 NT$62.0K
-54.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
2.27
809.69%

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

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Pingtung city: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Pingtung city
$155 69% $345
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Pingtung city
$334 33.2% $83
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Pingtung city
$112 45.3% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Pingtung city
$130 30% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Pingtung city
$152 25.9% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Pingtung city
$19 * 77.2% $65
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Pingtung city
$8.4 * 69.7% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $247 in Pingtung city. 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 120% higher in Pingtung city, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $32.00 in Pingtung city. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Almaty vs $334 in Pingtung city – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇹🇼 Pingtung city
🕒 Local time
05:57 5:57 AM
07:57 7:57 AM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
201,644
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Pingtung city 4,590 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Pingtung city

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 Pingtung city: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pingtung city cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 51%, 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 $1,364 in Pingtung city. 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 Pingtung city, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Pingtung city?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $909 in Pingtung city. That's a gap of about 51%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $449 per month in Almaty and $344 in Pingtung city. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Pingtung city?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pingtung city, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Pingtung city it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Pingtung city more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pingtung city – 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 Pingtung city?
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 Pingtung city. 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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