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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $827 per month in Aktobe vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,284 per month in Aktobe vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,741 per month in Aktobe vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Aktobe costs about 7% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aktobe and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Aktobe 40% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ₸3,183

$10.77 ₸4,935

-35.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.95 ₸16.0K

$32.49 ₸14.9K

7.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 ₸3,009

$6.63 ₸3,038

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₸1,016

$2.39 ₸1,097

-7.11%

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

$1.24 ₸567

$1.02 ₸469

21.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸262

$0.53 ₸244

7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ₸807

$1.05 ₸482

67.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₸1,262

$1.33 ₸611

106.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ₸579

$1.46 ₸670

-13.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ₸166

$0.42 ₸194

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₸481

$1.72 ₸787

-38.95%

Eggs

$1.51 ₸693

$1.63 ₸746

-7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 ₸3,425

$10.25 ₸4,697

-27.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 ₸2,562

$5.14 ₸2,357

8.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.58 ₸3,931

$8.80 ₸4,032

-2.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 ₸727

$1.18 ₸541

34.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₸1,010

$2.09 ₸959

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₸1,087

$2.50 ₸1,146

-5.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 ₸869

$1.35 ₸617

40.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₸361

$0.53 ₸245

49.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ₸181

$0.40 ₸182

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₸377

$0.86 ₸394

-4.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₸286

$0.83 ₸382

-25.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 ₸1,063

$2.46 ₸1,128

-5.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.40 ₸2,476

$4.36 ₸1,998

23.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₸509

$1.04 ₸478

6.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸830

$1.54 ₸707

17.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₸78.5

$0.13 ₸60.4

30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.19 ₸7,877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 ₸509

$0.83 ₸379

33.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₸331

$0.37 ₸167

94.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 ₸2,464

$9.78 ₸4,482

-44.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 ₸293

$0.59 ₸269

8.47%

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

$23.2K ₸10.6M

$26.9K ₸12.3M

-13.63%

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

$29.6K ₸13.6M

$29.0K ₸13.3M

1.99%

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

$54.9 ₸25.1K

$46.53 ₸21.3K

17.90%

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

$10.16 ₸4,655

$9.10 ₸4,168

11.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.89 ₸9,571

$14.64 ₸6,709

42.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.10 ₸21.1K

$38.70 ₸17.7K

19.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.95 ₸5,474

$8.60 ₸3,943

38.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₸2,472

$5.40 ₸2,476

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

$213 ₸97.8K

$56.5 ₸25.9K

277.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 ₸1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.54 ₸22.2K

$35.70 ₸16.4K

35.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₸23.6K

$33.12 ₸15.2K

55.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 ₸50.5K

$182 ₸83.4K

-39.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 ₸45.5K

$52.1 ₸23.8K

90.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₸139.2K

$333 ₸152.7K

-8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 ₸100.6K

$202 ₸92.5K

8.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₸204.8K

$693 ₸317.5K

-35.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 ₸157.1K

$550 ₸252.1K

-37.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$826 ₸378.4K

$1,075 ₸492.4K

-23.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$523 ₸239.7K

$974 ₸446.2K

-46.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$542 ₸248.3K

$432 ₸198.1K

25.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-6.85%

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

Last update for Aktobe: August 30, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $304 in Aktobe 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 25% higher in Aktobe, 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 $35.00 in Aktobe versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Aktobe vs $183 in Shymkent – so Aktobe wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Aktobe is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,241 per month in Aktobe 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $827 in Aktobe and $776 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Aktobe and $56.5 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $827 in Aktobe 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, Aktobe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.