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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Aktau vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Aktau vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,818 per month in Aktau vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Aktau and Shymkent have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Aktau and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 43% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.90 ₸4,961

$10.77 ₸4,900

1.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.96 ₸20.0K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

35.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 ₸4,515

$6.63 ₸3,016

49.62%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₸1,145

$2.39 ₸1,089

5.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸353

$1.02 ₸466

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸201

$0.53 ₸242

-16.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 ₸606

$1.05 ₸479

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸699

$1.33 ₸607

15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₸624

$1.46 ₸665

-6.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸195

$0.42 ₸192

2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 ₸846

$1.72 ₸782

8.14%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸779

$1.63 ₸740

4.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.88 ₸4,494

$10.25 ₸4,664

-3.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 ₸1,887

$5.14 ₸2,340

-19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 ₸3,933

$8.80 ₸4,004

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ₸677

$1.18 ₸537

26.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,004

$2.09 ₸953

5.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₸1,026

$2.50 ₸1,138

-9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.82 ₸1,284

$1.35 ₸613

108.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ₸277

$0.53 ₸243

15.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₸236

$0.40 ₸181

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 ₸686

$0.86 ₸392

75.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₸414

$0.83 ₸380

9.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.68 ₸1,217

$2.46 ₸1,120

8.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₸4,132

$4.36 ₸1,984

108.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸322

$1.04 ₸475

-31.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸388

$1.54 ₸702

-44.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₸78.9

$0.13 ₸60.0

30.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 ₸506

$0.83 ₸376

33.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸285

$0.37 ₸166

70.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.78 ₸4,451

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸266

$0.59 ₸267

-1.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.9K ₸12.2M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.8K ₸13.6M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

2.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.86 ₸20.4K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

-3.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.98 ₸3,630

$9.10 ₸4,139

-12.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.45 ₸4,756

$14.64 ₸6,662

-28.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.08 ₸16.0K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

-9.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,915

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 ₸1,343

$5.40 ₸2,458

-45.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$139 ₸63.2K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

145.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,557 ₸1.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 ₸29.6K

$35.70 ₸16.2K

82.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.72 ₸17.6K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

16.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 ₸32.4K

$182 ₸82.8K

-60.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₸39.6K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

67.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 ₸148.4K

$333 ₸151.6K

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₸86.8K

$202 ₸91.8K

-5.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 ₸244.6K

$693 ₸315.3K

-22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₸174.4K

$550 ₸250.3K

-30.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$777 ₸353.6K

$1,075 ₸489.0K

-27.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$642 ₸292.3K

$974 ₸443.0K

-34.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$543 ₸247.1K

$432 ₸196.7K

25.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-23.29%

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

Last update for Aktau: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Aktau versus $333 in Shymkent. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Aktau. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Aktau versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $183 – making Shymkent the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Aktau vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,169 per month in Aktau and $1,165 in Shymkent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shymkent, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Aktau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Aktau and $32.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $779 in Aktau and $776 in Shymkent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Shymkent – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Shymkent. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aktau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.