Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Makassar: $641 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Makassar
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$641
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makassar 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 Makassar and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $641 per month in Makassar vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Makassar $641
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $985 per month in Makassar vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Makassar $985
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,328 per month in Makassar vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Makassar $1,328
  • Almaty $2,913

Makassar is about 53% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Makassar sits 53% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$13.16 ₸5,949
-86.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.88 Rp 159.8K
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-80.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.15 Rp 56.7K
$8.90 ₸4,022
-64.61%
Cappuccino
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$3.25 ₸1,469
-40.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,030
$1.41 ₸639
-64.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,497
$0.88 ₸399
-59.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 Rp 44.8K
$3.35 ₸1,513
-25.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 Rp 59.4K
$4.04 ₸1,827
-18.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.69 ₸762
-5.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
$0.86 ₸390
13.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
$2.03 ₸917
-69.46%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
$2.43 ₸1,100
-38.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.29 Rp 113.3K
$12.46 ₸5,632
-49.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 61.9K
$6.71 ₸3,033
-48.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.24 Rp 94.3K
$10.85 ₸4,905
-51.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.3K
$1.80 ₸813
30.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.5K
$2.25 ₸1,018
-39.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
$2.91 ₸1,314
-34.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.4K
$2.75 ₸1,243
-32.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.6K
$0.75 ₸337
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
$0.55 ₸248
185.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.62 ₸732
-54.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,526
$1.05 ₸474
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 Rp 47.4K
$2.58 ₸1,167
1.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.11 Rp 398.0K
$11.15 ₸5,042
98.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
$1.21 ₸547
49.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 54.0K
$2.44 ₸1,104
22.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,854
$0.26 ₸117
3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.30 Rp 77.5K
$22.03 ₸9,957
-80.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,781
$1.35 ₸611
-63.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,271
$0.64 ₸288
-45.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 Rp 47.9K
$11.16 ₸5,044
-76.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.72 ₸324
2.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 430.8M
$22.5K ₸10.2M
6.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K Rp 557.0M
$30.3K ₸13.7M
2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.0 Rp 1.6M
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-3.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.71 Rp 48.7K
$10.66 ₸4,820
-74.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.90 Rp 448.1K
$17.86 ₸8,072
39.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.47 Rp 386.5K
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-69.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.40 Rp 151.1K
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-69.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36 Rp 60.5K
$6.78 ₸3,064
-50.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.5 Rp 1.7M
$449 ₸202.9K
-79.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,746 Rp 67.4M
$12.1K ₸5.5M
-69.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.95 Rp 485.2K
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-70.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.52 Rp 423.3K
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-49.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 Rp 1.4M
$142 ₸64.1K
-46.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.00 Rp 720.0K
$133 ₸60.0K
-69.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 Rp 4.2M
$805 ₸363.7K
-71.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 Rp 2.7M
$500 ₸225.9K
-70.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 Rp 9.8M
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-61.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 Rp 6.5M
$904 ₸408.8K
-60.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 Rp 20.9M
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-53.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 Rp 14.5M
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-48.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$214 Rp 3.8M
$870 ₸393.3K
-75.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
20.65
-54.19%

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

Last update for Makassar: October 11, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Makassar
$197
Almaty
$250 27.1% $53
Accommodation & Living
Makassar
$148
Almaty
$500 237% $352
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
$117
Almaty
$120 3.2% $3.8
Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
$75
Almaty
$185 148% $111
Eating Out
Makassar
$69
Almaty
$205 198% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
$28
Almaty
$84 198% $56
Getting Around
Makassar
$7.6
Almaty
$28 263% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $232 in Makassar 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 307% 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 $9.00 in Makassar versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $250 – making Makassar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Makassar
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
03:57 3:57 AM
01:57 1:57 AM
2 h behind Makassar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,427,619
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Makassar Almaty 6,860 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Makassar
  • 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
Makassar vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Makassar?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 114%, 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 $961 per month in Makassar 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 Makassar, 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 Makassar or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Makassar 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 Makassar and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $641 in Makassar and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 114%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Makassar or in Almaty?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Makassar, where all-in costs run around $641, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Makassar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Makassar or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Makassar – 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 Makassar. 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.

Makassar vs other spots: cost of living compared

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