Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Shymkent

😐 Solo nomad: Aktau is 15.8% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 4.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Aktau is 14.2% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 ₸4,807
$9.80 ₸4,872
-1.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 ₸19.2K
$19.33 ₸9,612
99.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 ₸4,367
$6.88 ₸3,421
27.62%
Cappuccino
$2.29 ₸1,137
$1.85 ₸921
23.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₸271
$0.96 ₸476
-43.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₸218
$0.44 ₸217
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 ₸570
$1.15 ₸573
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₸693
$1.81 ₸900
-23.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 ₸575
$1.12 ₸556
3.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.38 ₸190
$0.30 ₸149
26.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 ₸842
$1.62 ₸805
4.32%
Eggs
$1.37 ₸681
$1.50 ₸745
-8.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.78 ₸4,363
$8.21 ₸4,083
6.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.01 ₸1,993
$4.34 ₸2,160
-7.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 ₸3,740
$6.28 ₸3,120
19.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 ₸648
$0.94 ₸466
38.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 ₸998
$1.84 ₸917
9.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ₸1,017
$1.89 ₸942
8.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ₸1,240
$0.99 ₸492
151.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸290
$0.44 ₸220
31.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 ₸233
$0.34 ₸171
38.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ₸654
$0.77 ₸384
71.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₸397
$0.63 ₸313
26.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 ₸1,198
$1.96 ₸975
22.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.44 ₸4,198
$4.08 ₸2,029
106.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸344
$0.96 ₸477
-28.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₸387
$1.35 ₸673
-42.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ₸70.0
$0.13 ₸64.7
7.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 ₸501
$0.90 ₸446
12.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₸286
$0.68 ₸339
-14.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 ₸2,296
$5.83 ₸2,899
-20.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 ₸229
$0.49 ₸246
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ₸9.8M
$19.8K ₸9.9M
-0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K ₸12.0M
$24.3K ₸12.1M
-0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.85 ₸19.8K
$49.40 ₸24.6K
-19.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.52 ₸3,737
$8.72 ₸4,334
-13.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.25 ₸4,600
$12.54 ₸6,232
-26.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.07 ₸15.9K
$33.89 ₸16.8K
-5.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.69 ₸3,821
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.72 ₸1,351
$4.98 ₸2,476
-45.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 ₸63.7K
$49.41 ₸24.6K
159.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,338 ₸1.2M
$4,849 ₸2.4M
-51.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 ₸29.5K
$32.90 ₸16.4K
80.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.29 ₸17.5K
$29.59 ₸14.7K
19.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.7 ₸32.2K
$120 ₸59.4K
-45.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.9 ₸38.2K
$46.41 ₸23.1K
65.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$252 ₸125.4K
$303 ₸150.8K
-16.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₸87.3K
$173 ₸86.0K
1.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 ₸220.6K
$467 ₸232.0K
-4.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ₸178.7K
$361 ₸179.7K
-0.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$710 ₸353.0K
$998 ₸495.9K
-28.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$591 ₸294.0K
$897 ₸445.9K
-34.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$511 ₸253.9K
$403 ₸200.2K
26.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
19.5
-58.97%

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

Last update for Aktau: March 2, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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