Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktobe and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktobe and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $666 per month in Aktobe vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,065 per month in Aktobe vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,463 per month in Aktobe vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Aktobe is about 2% cheaper than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aktobe and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Aktobe 50% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.95 ₸3,898

$9.57 ₸4,692

-16.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.27 ₸14.3K

$19.66 ₸9,637

48.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 ₸3,083

$6.77 ₸3,318

-7.09%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₸873

$1.87 ₸917

-4.81%

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

$1.40 ₸684

$1.01 ₸493

38.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.44 ₸214

11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₸752

$1.16 ₸566

31.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₸1,068

$1.91 ₸936

14.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸562

$1.10 ₸537

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 ₸133

$0.30 ₸149

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ₸537

$1.57 ₸771

-29.94%

Eggs

$1.47 ₸719

$1.44 ₸706

2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 ₸4,053

$7.95 ₸3,894

4.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₸2,363

$4.24 ₸2,079

13.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.01 ₸3,433

$6.50 ₸3,185

7.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₸670

$1.00 ₸492

37.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₸977

$1.84 ₸899

8.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,137

$1.89 ₸926

22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₸941

$1.02 ₸502

88.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₸385

$0.47 ₸232

68.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 ₸140

$0.38 ₸185

-23.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ₸368

$0.78 ₸381

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸311

$0.64 ₸312

-1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 ₸896

$1.91 ₸935

-4.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.05 ₸2,473

$3.97 ₸1,946

27.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$0.93 ₸457

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸757

$1.38 ₸677

11.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸86.4

$0.16 ₸78.2

12.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ₸485

$0.84 ₸411

17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ₸506

$0.63 ₸310

63.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 ₸2,244

$5.91 ₸2,896

-22.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸238

$0.46 ₸224

6.52%

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

$17.6K ₸8.6M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

-11.14%

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

$19.3K ₸9.5M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

-21.30%

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

$40.47 ₸19.8K

$51.1 ₸25.0K

-20.72%

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

$10.26 ₸5,028

$8.84 ₸4,332

16.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 ₸5,281

$12.49 ₸6,123

-13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.77 ₸14.1K

$32.82 ₸16.1K

-12.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.68 ₸4,745

$7.69 ₸3,771

25.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 ₸2,428

$4.75 ₸2,329

4.21%

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

$212 ₸103.7K

$49.35 ₸24.2K

328.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,966 ₸2.4M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.99 ₸16.7K

$32.43 ₸15.9K

4.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.76 ₸14.6K

$30.01 ₸14.7K

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ₸44.6K

$123 ₸60.1K

-25.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 ₸31.3K

$46.31 ₸22.7K

37.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 ₸110.1K

$306 ₸150.0K

-26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 ₸92.4K

$177 ₸86.9K

6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₸170.6K

$470 ₸230.6K

-26.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ₸138.2K

$354 ₸173.5K

-20.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$775 ₸379.8K

$1,040 ₸509.6K

-25.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$487 ₸238.6K

$911 ₸446.2K

-46.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$510 ₸249.9K

$401 ₸196.3K

27.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

19.5

-5.69%

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

Last update for Aktobe: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Aktobe versus $306 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 Aktobe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Aktobe versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $148 – 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

Aktobe vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shymkent is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $999 per month in Aktobe 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 Aktobe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $666 in Aktobe and $679 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $212 per month in Aktobe and $49.35 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $666 in Aktobe and $679 in Shymkent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Aktobe – 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 Aktobe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shymkent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.