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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $692 per month in Aktau vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Aktau vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,668 per month in Aktau vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

Aktau costs about 2% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aktau and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 48% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.66 ₸4,547

$9.93 ₸4,676

-2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.51 ₸18.6K

$19.90 ₸9,368

98.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ₸4,124

$6.99 ₸3,292

25.32%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₸1,069

$1.85 ₸869

22.70%

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

$0.52 ₸245

$0.99 ₸467

-47.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₸190

$0.41 ₸192

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸562

$1.15 ₸543

3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₸640

$1.91 ₸900

-28.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₸544

$1.15 ₸542

0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸194

$0.30 ₸142

36.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸772

$1.63 ₸768

0.61%

Eggs

$1.37 ₸647

$1.44 ₸677

-4.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.69 ₸4,091

$7.92 ₸3,730

9.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ₸1,891

$4.18 ₸1,970

-3.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₸3,709

$6.47 ₸3,047

21.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸630

$0.96 ₸451

39.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₸968

$1.78 ₸838

15.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 ₸992

$1.91 ₸898

10.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 ₸1,197

$1.02 ₸481

149.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸279

$0.48 ₸224

22.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸240

$0.38 ₸178

34.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ₸635

$0.79 ₸373

70.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸402

$0.69 ₸323

23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.41 ₸1,132

$1.99 ₸939

21.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 ₸4,216

$4.33 ₸2,037

106.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₸305

$0.94 ₸444

-30.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸380

$1.33 ₸628

-39.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸63.6

$0.14 ₸64.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 ₸446

$0.89 ₸419

6.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸295

$0.62 ₸294

1.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 ₸2,252

$5.80 ₸2,729

-17.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸216

$0.50 ₸234

-8.00%

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

$20.5K ₸9.6M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

5.90%

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

$24.2K ₸11.4M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

1.25%

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

$41.02 ₸19.3K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

-18.68%

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

$7.82 ₸3,683

$8.64 ₸4,066

-9.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₸4,408

$12.73 ₸5,991

-26.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.08 ₸15.1K

$33.03 ₸15.6K

-2.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,676

Cinema Ticket

$2.68 ₸1,263

$5.04 ₸2,371

-46.83%

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

$127 ₸59.8K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

163.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,363 ₸1.1M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

-51.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 ₸27.8K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

78.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.97 ₸16.5K

$29.87 ₸14.1K

17.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 ₸29.5K

$120 ₸56.5K

-47.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 ₸36.5K

$46.86 ₸22.1K

65.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 ₸115.9K

$297 ₸139.9K

-17.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₸85.3K

$174 ₸81.8K

4.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₸214.1K

$475 ₸223.6K

-4.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 ₸173.6K

$365 ₸171.8K

1.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$747 ₸351.8K

$1,039 ₸489.3K

-28.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$616 ₸289.8K

$935 ₸440.4K

-34.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$529 ₸249.1K

$415 ₸195.5K

27.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

-58.97%

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

Last update for Aktau: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Aktau versus $297 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 27% higher in Aktau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Aktau versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $149 – 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

Aktau costs about 2% more than Shymkent, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Aktau and $1,018 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Aktau and $20.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Aktau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Aktau and $678 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.