Cost of Living: Almaty vs Florence (2026)

Kazakhstan vs Italy — relocation comparison

TL;DRAlmaty is 43% cheaper on rent ($756/mo vs $1316/mo). Florence is safer — homicide rate 0.5 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
68
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Florence
Italy
Full profile
Florence edges ahead 68 to 59. Almaty isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Almaty
$559/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Florence
0.5 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Florence
7.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Florence
higher proficiency score
Almaty
Metric
Florence
$756/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1316/mo
$361/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$712/mo
$2,640
🧳
Cost to land
$7,759
2.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.5 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
42 / 100
28°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
-9°C
❄️
Winter low
3°C
133 Mbps
Internet speed
46 Mbps
3.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.7 / 10
Low (22/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (62/100)
$41k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
8.7%
📈
Inflation
1.0%
59 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
Grid reliability
89/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
87/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

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

411
PISA
country avg
477
3
Intl schools
1
Public school
Yes (Italian)
Pediatric care
Free pediatric care for all resident children under 14
Specialist wait
4–12 weeks public
$352/mo
Childcare
full-day
$789/mo

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

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
Industries
fashion-leathertourismfood-winefintech
Startup ecosystem
nascent
Grid reliability
89/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 43% cheaper in Almaty ($756/mo vs $1316/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Florence (30°C vs 28°C).
  • Florence is safer by homicide rate (0.5 vs 2.6 per 100k).
  • Florence scores higher on democracy (7.7 vs 3.1 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Florence (62/100 vs 22/100 English proficiency).

Almaty vs Florence — Common Questions

Is Almaty cheaper than Florence?

Almaty is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $756/month in Almaty vs $1316/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Almaty or Florence?

Florence is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Almaty has a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 and Florence has 0.55 per 100,000.

Should I move to Almaty or Florence?

Florence edges ahead 68 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 Florence?

Almaty: no specific remote work visa. Florence: Italy Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

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

English is easier to get by in Florence (EF EPI score: 62/100) than in Almaty (22/100). In Florence, 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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