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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Guayaquil is about 1% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Guayaquil and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 $3.57
$8.03 ₸3,934
-55.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 $46.91
$38.47 ₸18.9K
21.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 $7.78
$6.97 ₸3,416
11.62%
Cappuccino
$2.51 $2.51
$2.40 ₸1,174
4.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.98 ₸478
-13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 $0.65
$0.57 ₸277
14.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.40 ₸687
112.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 $4.60
$2.99 ₸1,464
53.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.31 ₸644
-12.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.60 ₸293
195.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.54 ₸756
11.04%
Eggs
$2.62 $2.62
$1.74 ₸852
50.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 $6.02
$9.74 ₸4,773
-38.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$4.70 ₸2,301
8.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$7.50 ₸3,678
-16.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.35 ₸661
52.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.98 ₸970
-22.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.95 ₸957
-45.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$2.07 ₸1,014
-42.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.63 ₸308
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.42 ₸206
250.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 $0.70
$1.24 ₸608
-43.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.71 ₸346
38.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97 $5.97
$1.97 ₸965
203.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.90 $11.90
$10.09 ₸4,947
17.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.88 ₸433
78.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.04 ₸999
4.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.24 ₸118
41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.55 $20.55
$17.76 ₸8,701
15.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.16 ₸567
132.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 $2.71
$0.70 ₸343
287.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.06 $10.06
$4.80 ₸2,355
109.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.49 ₸240
30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$23.2K ₸11.4M
8.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$27.2K ₸13.4M
7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 $111
$63.8 ₸31.3K
73.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.65 $13.65
$8.60 ₸4,213
58.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.09 $32.09
$13.83 ₸6,777
132.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.42 $35.42
$48.67 ₸23.9K
-27.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.79 $46.79
$21.24 ₸10.4K
120.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96 $7.96
$5.11 ₸2,505
55.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$319 $319
$267 ₸130.8K
19.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,838 $5,838
$12.9K ₸6.3M
-54.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$84.0 ₸41.1K
-38.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.04 $44.04
$43.48 ₸21.3K
1.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$96.8 ₸47.4K
6.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$119 ₸58.5K
-5.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 $336
$665 ₸325.9K
-49.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$420 ₸205.7K
-12.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$1,175 ₸575.8K
-56.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 $694
$773 ₸378.9K
-10.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,305 $2,305
$2,143 ₸1.0M
7.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,469 $1,469
$1,254 ₸614.6K
17.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guayaquil
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$584 $584
$789 ₸386.9K
-26.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.35
18.39
-49.16%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $665 in Almaty. 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 35% 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 $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $189 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Guayaquil vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Guayaquil?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,572 per month in Guayaquil and $1,586 in Almaty. 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 Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil or Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Guayaquil and $38.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Guayaquil vs Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,048 in Guayaquil and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Guayaquil or Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guayaquil, where all-in costs run around $1,048, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Guayaquil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Guayaquil or Almaty more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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