For one person, living is cheaper in Lipa: $607 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lipa and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $607 per month in Lipa vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.
Lipa $607
Almaty $1,372
A couple spends around $937 per month in Lipa vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.
Lipa $937
Almaty $2,142
A family of three spends $1,268 per month in Lipa vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.
Lipa $1,268
Almaty $2,913
🙂
Lipa is about 56% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Lipa sits 55% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14₱198
$13.16₸5,949
-76.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.01₱1,008
$44.86₸20.3K
-64.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.75₱173
$8.90₸4,022
-69.10%
Cappuccino
$1.80₱113
$3.25₸1,469
-44.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₱28.54
$1.41₸639
-68.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₱19.15
$0.88₸399
-65.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02₱64.5
$3.35₸1,513
-69.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60₱101
$4.04₸1,827
-60.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47₱92.7
$1.69₸762
-13.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15₱72.5
$0.86₸390
33.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87₱54.8
$2.03₸917
-57.14%
Eggs
$1.68₱106
$2.43₸1,100
-30.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.98₱314
$12.46₸5,632
-60.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39₱213
$6.71₸3,033
-49.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.99₱503
$10.85₸4,905
-26.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29₱144
$1.80₸813
27.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60₱101
$2.25₸1,018
-28.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$2.91₸1,314
-19.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.07₱67.6
$2.75₸1,243
-61.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66₱105
$0.75₸337
121.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70₱107
$0.55₸248
209.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65₱41.18
$1.62₸732
-59.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.96
$1.05₸474
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88₱181
$2.58₸1,167
11.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.96₱564
$11.15₸5,042
-19.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99₱62.1
$1.21₸547
-18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01₱126
$2.44₸1,104
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.65
$0.26₸117
-3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.81₱303
$22.03₸9,957
-78.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70₱43.83
$1.35₸611
-48.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.48
$0.64₸288
-64.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.90₱119
$11.16₸5,044
-82.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱69.9
$0.72₸324
54.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K₱1.3M
$22.5K₸10.2M
-5.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K₱1.0M
$30.3K₸13.7M
-47.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138₱8,711
$91.8₸41.5K
50.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20₱1,083
$10.66₸4,820
61.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.11₱1,455
$17.86₸8,072
29.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.15₱2,024
$70.3₸31.8K
-54.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.93₱247
$27.60₸12.5K
-85.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94₱311
$6.78₸3,064
-27.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$133₱8,392
$449₸202.9K
-70.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K₱670.2K
$12.1K₸5.5M
-12.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.59₱1,800
$89.9₸40.7K
-68.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.30₱1,215
$47.02₸21.3K
-58.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5₱4,504
$142₸64.1K
-49.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5₱3,496
$133₸60.0K
-58.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$80.4₱5,061
$805₸363.7K
-90.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$61.6₱3,881
$500₸225.9K
-87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$251₱15.8K
$1,429₸645.9K
-82.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181₱11.4K
$904₸408.8K
-80.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,503₸1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,559₸704.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lipa
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$225₱14.2K
$870₸393.3K
-74.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
20.65
-70.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lipa: October 11, 2026
Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lipa
$179 29.4%
Almaty
$120 8.8% ↓ 32.7%$58
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lipa
$172 28.3%
Almaty
$250 18.3% ↑ 45.7%$78
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lipa
$79 13%
Almaty
$185 13.5% ↑ 135%$106
🍽Eating Out
Lipa
$66 10.9%
Almaty
$205 14.9% ↑ 209%$139
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lipa
$62 10.2%
Almaty
$500 36.4% ↑ 711%$438
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lipa
$42 6.9%
Almaty
$84 6.1% ↑ 99.6%$42
🚌Getting Around
Lipa
$7.7 1.3%
Almaty
$28 2% ↑ 261%$20
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lipa
$196 15.5%
Almaty
$131 4.5% ↓ 33.1%$65
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lipa
$399 31.5%
Almaty
$575 19.7% ↑ 43.9%$175
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lipa
$175 13.8%
Almaty
$412 14.1% ↑ 135%$237
🍽Eating Out
Lipa
$213 16.8%
Almaty
$640 22% ↑ 201%$428
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lipa
$181 14.3%
Almaty
$904 31.1% ↑ 400%$724
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lipa
$88 6.9%
Almaty
$195 6.7% ↑ 122%$107
🚌Getting Around
Lipa
$16 1.3%
Almaty
$56 1.9% ↑ 253%$40
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $80.4 in Lipa 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 286% 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 $16.00 in Lipa versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $250 – making Lipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Lipa vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Lipa?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 126%, 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 $910 per month in Lipa 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 Lipa, 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 Lipa or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Lipa 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 Lipa and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $607 in Lipa and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 126%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lipa or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lipa, where all-in costs run around $607, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Lipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lipa or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lipa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lipa or Almaty?
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 Lipa. 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.