Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,012 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,012
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Almaty

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

A single person spends $1,012 per month in Lima vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Lima $1,012
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,589 per month in Lima vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Lima $1,589
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Lima vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Lima $2,167
  • Almaty $2,913

Lima is about 26% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lima sits 25% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 PEN 15.10
$13.16 ₸5,949
-66.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17 PEN 121
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-21.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.89 PEN 23.65
$8.90 ₸4,022
-22.58%
Cappuccino
$3.26 PEN 11.20
$3.25 ₸1,469
0.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 PEN 3.84
$1.41 ₸639
-20.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 PEN 2.11
$0.88 ₸399
-29.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 PEN 9.09
$3.35 ₸1,513
-20.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 PEN 15.15
$4.04 ₸1,827
9.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 PEN 5.61
$1.69 ₸762
-3.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PEN 8.78
$0.86 ₸390
197.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 PEN 4.65
$2.03 ₸917
-33.50%
Eggs
$2.90 PEN 9.96
$2.43 ₸1,100
19.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.85 PEN 30.38
$12.46 ₸5,632
-28.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 PEN 20.52
$6.71 ₸3,033
-10.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.78 PEN 33.59
$10.85 ₸4,905
-9.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 PEN 7.02
$1.80 ₸813
13.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 PEN 3.66
$2.25 ₸1,018
-52.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 PEN 4.64
$2.91 ₸1,314
-53.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 PEN 5.15
$2.75 ₸1,243
-45.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 3.03
$0.75 ₸337
17.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 PEN 3.15
$0.55 ₸248
67.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 PEN 3.07
$1.62 ₸732
-45.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 PEN 3.10
$1.05 ₸474
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.27
$2.58 ₸1,167
128.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.52 PEN 29.26
$11.15 ₸5,042
-23.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 PEN 6.45
$1.21 ₸547
55.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 PEN 11.05
$2.44 ₸1,104
31.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
$0.26 ₸117
161.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.86 PEN 92.2
$22.03 ₸9,957
21.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.09
$1.35 ₸611
182.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 PEN 6.93
$0.64 ₸288
215.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.11 PEN 24.41
$11.16 ₸5,044
-36.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 PEN 5.91
$0.72 ₸324
138.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K PEN 76.6K
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K PEN 87.6K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-15.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 PEN 251
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-20.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.35 PEN 56.2
$10.66 ₸4,820
53.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47 PEN 94.3
$17.86 ₸8,072
53.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.90 PEN 110
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-54.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 PEN 66.7
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-29.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.05 PEN 24.23
$6.78 ₸3,064
3.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 627
$449 ₸202.9K
-59.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K PEN 44.8K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
7.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 PEN 185
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-40.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 PEN 118
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-27.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 PEN 284
$142 ₸64.1K
-41.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 PEN 269
$133 ₸60.0K
-41.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 PEN 2,476
$805 ₸363.7K
-10.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$343 PEN 1,179
$500 ₸225.9K
-31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 PEN 4,186
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-14.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 PEN 2,235
$904 ₸408.8K
-28.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,414 PEN 8,292
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-3.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,357 PEN 4,660
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-12.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 PEN 2,226
$870 ₸393.3K
-25.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
20.65
-56.71%

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

Last update for Lima: October 11, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$343
Almaty
$500 45.5% $156
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Almaty
$250 10.8% $24
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Almaty
$205 65.3% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Almaty
$120 2.9% $3.4
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Almaty
$185 65.2% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$46
Almaty
$84 82.3% $38
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Almaty
$28 36.5% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Lima versus $805 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 34% 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 $35.00 in Lima versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $250 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
21:39 9:39 PM
08:39 8:39 AM
11 h ahead of Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Almaty 15,740 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Almaty

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
Lima vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Lima?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 36%, 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 $1,518 per month in Lima and $2,058 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 Lima, 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 Lima or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Lima and $45.00 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 Lima and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,012 in Lima and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 36%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lima or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $1,012, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lima or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lima – 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 Lima. 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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