Cost of Living: Almaty vs Bali (2026)

Kazakhstan vs Indonesia — relocation comparison

TL;DRAlmaty is 30% cheaper on rent ($756/mo vs $1082/mo). Bali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 2.6 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
59
Livability Score
🇰🇿 Almaty
Kazakhstan
Full profile
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
Bali edges ahead 65 to 59. Almaty isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Almaty
$325/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Bali
6.8/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Bali
higher proficiency score
Almaty
Metric
Bali
$756/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1082/mo
$361/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$268/mo
$2,640
🧳
Cost to land
$2,914
2.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.3 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
51 / 100
28°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
-9°C
❄️
Winter low
25°C
133 Mbps
Internet speed
36 Mbps
3.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.8 / 10
Low (22/100)
🗣️
English ease
Moderate (41/100)
$41k
💼
GDP per capita
$16k
8.7%
📈
Inflation
2.2%
59 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
65 / 100
Grid reliability
60/100 — Patchy
🗽
Freedom House
56/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

411
PISA
country avg
369
3
Intl schools
15
Public school
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
$352/mo
Childcare
full-day
$498/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
Industries
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Startup ecosystem
nascent
Grid reliability
60/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
Your partner gets to watch you work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 30% cheaper in Almaty ($756/mo vs $1082/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Bali (29°C vs 28°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 2.6 per 100k).
  • Bali scores higher on democracy (6.8 vs 3.1 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Bali (41/100 vs 22/100 English proficiency).

Almaty vs Bali — Common Questions

Is Almaty cheaper than Bali?

Almaty is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $756/month in Almaty vs $1082/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Almaty or Bali?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Almaty has a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 and Bali has 0.31 per 100,000.

Should I move to Almaty or Bali?

Bali edges ahead 65 to 59. Almaty isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Almaty or Bali?

Almaty: no specific remote work visa. Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Almaty or Bali without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Bali (EF EPI score: 41/100) than in Almaty (22/100). In Bali, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Almaty, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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