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

😐 Solo nomad: Aktau is 40.4% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 4.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Aktau is 0.2% cheaper than Shymkent without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.53 ₸4,873
$9.88 ₸5,053
-3.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.42 ₸19.6K
$19.57 ₸10K
96.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 ₸4,532
$6.73 ₸3,441
31.65%
Cappuccino
$2.21 ₸1,132
$1.86 ₸951
18.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₸260
$0.95 ₸487
-46.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₸209
$0.4 ₸205
2.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 ₸591
$1.14 ₸582
1.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.4 ₸715
$1.91 ₸976
-26.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 ₸608
$1.12 ₸570
6.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 ₸211
$0.28 ₸141
46.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ₸835
$1.62 ₸830
0.62%
Eggs
$1.41 ₸723
$1.46 ₸745
-3.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.64 ₸4,416
$8.28 ₸4,233
4.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 ₸2,027
$4.16 ₸2,126
-4.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 ₸4,028
$6.25 ₸3,194
26.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.34 ₸684
$1.02 ₸522
31.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 ₸1,044
$1.85 ₸947
10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 ₸1,089
$1.85 ₸944
15.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 ₸1,300
$1.03 ₸525
146.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ₸284
$0.44 ₸226
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 ₸239
$0.35 ₸177
34.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 ₸672
$0.84 ₸429
55.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₸418
$0.64 ₸330
28.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 ₸1,219
$1.98 ₸1,011
20.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.01 ₸4,094
$3.86 ₸1,972
107.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₸347
$0.95 ₸484
-28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₸397
$1.34 ₸687
-41.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 ₸77
$0.14 ₸73.5
7.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₸524
$0.86 ₸439
19.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 ₸320
$0.64 ₸326
-1.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 ₸2,439
$5.98 ₸3,056
-20.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 ₸235
$0.46 ₸236
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20K ₸10.2M
$19.3K ₸9.8M
4.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K ₸12.4M
$24.6K ₸12.6M
-1.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.28 ₸20.6K
$49.26 ₸25.2K
-18.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.74 ₸3,959
$8.51 ₸4,352
-9.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.6 ₸4,907
$12.82 ₸6,554
-25.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.86 ₸16.3K
$33.14 ₸16.9K
-3.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.73 ₸3,955
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.67 ₸1,364
$4.87 ₸2,490
-45.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 ₸64.8K
$49.39 ₸25.3K
156.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,336 ₸1.2M
$4,780 ₸2.4M
-51.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ₸30.6K
$32.53 ₸16.6K
83.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 ₸18.1K
$29.51 ₸15.1K
19.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.3 ₸32.9K
$123 ₸62.8K
-47.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2 ₸39.5K
$45.5 ₸23.3K
69.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 ₸126.3K
$297 ₸152K
-16.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ₸92.4K
$175 ₸89.4K
3.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₸233.2K
$478 ₸244.3K
-4.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ₸187.4K
$354 ₸180.8K
3.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$666 ₸340.7K
$927 ₸473.9K
-28.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$537 ₸274.7K
$827 ₸423.2K
-35.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aktau
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$475 ₸242.8K
$367 ₸187.6K
29.39%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shymkent: October 28, 2025

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