Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vigan and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Vigan: $718 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Vigan
🇵🇭 Philippines
$718
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $718 per month in Vigan vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Vigan $718
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Vigan vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Vigan $1,125
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,533 per month in Vigan vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Vigan $1,533
  • Almaty $2,913

Vigan is about 48% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Vigan sits 47% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.89 ₱245
$13.16 ₸5,949
-70.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.49 ₱1,038
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-63.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$1.77 ₱112
$8.90 ₸4,022
-80.11%
Cappuccino
$1.84 ₱116
$3.25 ₸1,469
-43.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₱34.93
$1.41 ₸639
-60.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.81
$0.88 ₸399
-62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ₱62.0
$3.35 ₸1,513
-70.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₱97.8
$4.04 ₸1,827
-61.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ₱105
$1.69 ₸762
-1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 ₱71.0
$0.86 ₸390
31.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₱60.0
$2.03 ₸917
-53.20%
Eggs
$2.01 ₱126
$2.43 ₸1,100
-17.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.13 ₱323
$12.46 ₸5,632
-58.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 ₱216
$6.71 ₸3,033
-48.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.91 ₱498
$10.85 ₸4,905
-27.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 ₱145
$1.80 ₸813
27.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$2.25 ₸1,018
-31.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 ₱148
$2.91 ₸1,314
-19.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ₱64.8
$2.75 ₸1,243
-62.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 ₱109
$0.75 ₸337
132.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 ₱108
$0.55 ₸248
212.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ₱38.63
$1.62 ₸732
-62.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.07
$1.05 ₸474
-49.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 ₱184
$2.58 ₸1,167
13.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.74 ₱550
$11.15 ₸5,042
-21.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₱61.5
$1.21 ₸547
-19.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₱129
$2.44 ₸1,104
-15.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₱15.21
$0.26 ₸117
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.80 ₱680
$22.03 ₸9,957
-50.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱51.5
$1.35 ₸611
-39.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.46
$0.64 ₸288
-64.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 ₱121
$11.16 ₸5,044
-82.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ₱79.7
$0.72 ₸324
76.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ₱1.4M
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-4.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K ₱1.2M
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-35.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 ₱8,723
$91.8 ₸41.5K
50.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.81 ₱1,121
$10.66 ₸4,820
67.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.55 ₱1,483
$17.86 ₸8,072
31.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.22 ₱2,091
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-52.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 ₱319
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-81.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 ₱321
$6.78 ₸3,064
-24.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$131 ₱8,268
$449 ₸202.9K
-70.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₱668.5K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
-12.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.39 ₱1,787
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-68.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.84 ₱1,249
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-57.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 ₱4,555
$142 ₸64.1K
-48.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 ₱3,526
$133 ₸60.0K
-57.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 ₱14.4K
$805 ₸363.7K
-71.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 ₱9,812
$500 ₸225.9K
-68.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$525 ₱33.0K
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-63.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₱25.5K
$904 ₸408.8K
-55.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,466 ₱155.2K
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-1.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,003 ₱63.1K
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-35.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vigan
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$870 ₸393.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
20.65
-67.31%

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

Last update for Vigan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigan
$180
Almaty
$120 33.1% $60
Groceries & Markets
Vigan
$175
Almaty
$250 42.8% $75
Accommodation & Living
Vigan
$156
Almaty
$500 221% $344
Clothing & Footwear
Vigan
$79
Almaty
$185 133% $106
Eating Out
Vigan
$70
Almaty
$205 192% $135
Sport & Entertainment
Vigan
$43
Almaty
$84 93.2% $40
Getting Around
Vigan
$14
Almaty
$28 101% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Vigan 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Vigan versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $250 – making Vigan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Vigan
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
12:03 12:03 PM
10:03 10:03 AM
2 h behind Vigan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
53,879
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 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
  • Vigan Almaty 4,970 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vigan
  • 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
Vigan vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Vigan?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 91%, 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 $1,077 per month in Vigan 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 Vigan, 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 Vigan or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Vigan 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 Vigan and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $718 in Vigan and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 91%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Vigan or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vigan, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Vigan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vigan or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vigan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Vigan 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 Vigan. 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.

Vigan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?