Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Quezon City: $855 a month against $1,387 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Quezon City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$855
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $855 per month in Quezon City vs $1,387 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quezon City $855
  • Almaty $1,387

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Quezon City vs $2,135 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quezon City $1,385
  • Almaty $2,135

A family of three spends $1,916 per month in Quezon City vs $2,883 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quezon City $1,916
  • Almaty $2,883

Quezon City is about 38% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Quezon City sits 36% below the global median, while Almaty is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 ₱279
$13.31 ₸6,034
-66.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ₱1,178
$43.37 ₸19.7K
-56.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.86 ₱179
$8.80 ₸3,988
-67.50%
Cappuccino
$2.77 ₱174
$3.30 ₸1,497
-16.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₱43.17
$1.37 ₸620
-49.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₱18.35
$0.90 ₸409
-67.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 ₱92.5
$3.13 ₸1,419
-53.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ₱171
$4.10 ₸1,860
-33.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ₱107
$1.66 ₸754
3.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$0.90 ₸406
27.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱53.0
$2.06 ₸933
-58.74%
Eggs
$1.76 ₱110
$2.37 ₸1,074
-25.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.83 ₱428
$12.64 ₸5,730
-45.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.29 ₱269
$6.62 ₸3,000
-35.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.29 ₱457
$10.87 ₸4,928
-32.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 ₱241
$1.86 ₸845
106.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ₱88.9
$2.37 ₸1,075
-40.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 ₱224
$2.99 ₸1,358
19.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ₱71.3
$2.83 ₸1,282
-59.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 ₱150
$0.77 ₸347
211.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.45 ₱217
$0.58 ₸264
494.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₱86.3
$1.59 ₸723
-13.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 ₱61.0
$0.99 ₸449
-2.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₱178
$2.54 ₸1,153
11.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.62 ₱478
$11.04 ₸5,005
-30.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₱81.4
$1.21 ₸550
7.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₱110
$2.41 ₸1,093
-26.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₱24.91
$0.25 ₸113
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.79 ₱1,179
$21.84 ₸9,901
-13.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 ₱47.86
$1.28 ₸581
-40.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.15
$0.64 ₸291
-67.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 ₱155
$10.74 ₸4,870
-77.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₱74.4
$0.69 ₸314
72.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$22.3K ₸10.1M
-5.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$29.3K ₸13.3M
-35.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 ₱10.3K
$87.8 ₸39.8K
87.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.28 ₱896
$10.83 ₸4,909
31.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21 ₱1,518
$17.40 ₸7,887
39.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.71 ₱2,365
$69.7 ₸31.6K
-45.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.41 ₱214
$26.58 ₸12.1K
-87.17%
Cinema Ticket
$7.22 ₱453
$6.68 ₸3,031
8.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.1 ₱4,583
$446 ₸202.2K
-83.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,472 ₱155.1K
$11.9K ₸5.4M
-79.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.88 ₱2,250
$93.7 ₸42.5K
-61.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.30 ₱1,398
$46.91 ₸21.3K
-52.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₱4,989
$143 ₸64.7K
-44.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 ₱4,729
$133 ₸60.5K
-43.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 ₱19.7K
$773 ₸350.6K
-59.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 ₱11.9K
$497 ₸225.5K
-61.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$746 ₱46.8K
$1,390 ₸630.4K
-46.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ₱32.6K
$880 ₸398.9K
-40.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,326 ₱145.9K
$2,546 ₸1.2M
-8.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,421 ₱89.1K
$1,506 ₸683.0K
-5.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quezon City
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$440 ₱27.6K
$834 ₸377.9K
-47.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
20.65
-66.10%

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

Last update for Quezon City: October 6, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Quezon City
$207
Almaty
$251 21.4% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quezon City
$203
Almaty
$116 42.9% $87
Accommodation & Living
Quezon City
$190
Almaty
$497 161% $307
Clothing & Footwear
Quezon City
$96
Almaty
$188 95.5% $92
Eating Out
Quezon City
$94
Almaty
$205 118% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Quezon City
$52
Almaty
$83 59.2% $31
Getting Around
Quezon City
$22
Almaty
$27 23.2% $5.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $314 in Quezon City versus $773 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 89% 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 $19.00 in Quezon City versus $43.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $251 – making Quezon City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Quezon City
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
20:16 8:16 PM
18:16 6:16 PM
2 h behind Quezon City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,936,116
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 453 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quezon City Almaty 5,250 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quezon City
  • 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
Quezon City vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Quezon City?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 62%, 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 $1,282 per month in Quezon City and $2,080 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 Quezon City, 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 Quezon City or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Quezon City and $43.00 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 Quezon City and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $855 in Quezon City and $1,387 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 62%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Quezon City or in Almaty?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quezon City, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Almaty at $1,387. In Quezon City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quezon City or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quezon City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Quezon City 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 Quezon City. 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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