Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Santa Rosa

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Rosa: $625 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Santa Rosa
🇵🇭 Philippines
$625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Santa Rosa

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

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $625 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Santa Rosa $625

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $887 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Santa Rosa $887

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $1,149 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Santa Rosa $1,149

Almaty costs about 120% more than Santa Rosa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Santa Rosa is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,949
$2.54 ₱160
418.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.3K
$16.82 ₱1,059
166.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,022
$2.82 ₱177
215.60%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,469
$1.13 ₱71.3
187.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸639
$0.37 ₱23.13
281.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸399
$0.23 ₱14.46
282.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,513
$0.99 ₱62.1
238.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,827
$1.23 ₱77.6
228.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸762
$1.67 ₱105
1.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.12 ₱70.8
-23.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸917
$0.94 ₱59.3
115.96%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,100
$1.64 ₱103
48.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,632
$5.20 ₱327
139.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,033
$3.45 ₱217
94.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,905
$8.08 ₱509
34.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸813
$2.23 ₱140
-19.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,018
$0.77 ₱48.43
192.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,314
$2.36 ₱149
23.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,243
$1.03 ₱64.6
166.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$1.67 ₱105
-55.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$1.71 ₱108
-67.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸732
$0.63 ₱39.36
157.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸474
$0.49 ₱31.09
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,167
$2.88 ₱181
-10.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,042
$8.70 ₱548
28.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$0.96 ₱60.2
26.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,104
$2.02 ₱127
20.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.25 ₱15.53
4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,957
$12.68 ₱798
73.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸611
$0.81 ₱51.2
66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.25 ₱15.86
156.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,044
$1.88 ₱119
493.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸324
$0.99 ₱62.6
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$19.5K ₱1.2M
55.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.5K
$64.7 ₱4,071
41.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,820
$6.25 ₱394
70.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,072
$23.10 ₱1,454
-22.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.8K
$32.29 ₱2,033
117.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
$4.27 ₱269
546.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,064
$5.33 ₱336
27.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.9K
$130 ₱8,197
244.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$5,510 ₱346.9K
119.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.7K
$28.54 ₱1,797
215.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.3K
$19.66 ₱1,238
139.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.1K
$71.6 ₱4,510
97.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.0K
$56.2 ₱3,536
136.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.7K
$271 ₱17.1K
197.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.9K
$172 ₱10.8K
190.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸645.9K
$526 ₱33.1K
171.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.8K
$172 ₱10.9K
424.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
$2,054 ₱129.3K
21.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸704.7K
$1,115 ₱70.2K
39.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Santa Rosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸393.3K
$144 ₱9,088
502.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
6.75
205.93%

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

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Santa Rosa
$172 65.6% $328
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Santa Rosa
$169 32.6% $82
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Santa Rosa
$52 74.6% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Santa Rosa
$79 57.2% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Santa Rosa
$94 21.9% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Santa Rosa
$43 48.8% $41
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Santa Rosa
$16 43% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $271 in Santa Rosa. 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 503% 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 $17.00 in Santa Rosa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $169 – making Santa Rosa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇵🇭 Santa Rosa
🕒 Local time
07:44 7:44 AM
09:44 9:44 AM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
414,812
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, 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).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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 Santa Rosa 5,280 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Santa Rosa

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 Santa Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Rosa cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 120%, 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 $937 in Santa Rosa. 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 Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $17.00 in Santa Rosa. 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 Santa Rosa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $625 in Santa Rosa. That's a gap of about 120%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Santa Rosa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Rosa, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Santa Rosa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Santa Rosa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santa Rosa – 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 Santa Rosa?
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 Santa Rosa. 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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