Cost of Living Comparison Between Alga and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Alga and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $730 in Alga versus $675 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,180 in Alga versus $1,087 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,630 in Alga versus $1,499 in Shymkent.

Living in Alga is roughly 8% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alga 45% lower, Shymkent 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 ₸3,526

$9.50 ₸4,358

-19.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.72 ₸12.7K

$19.72 ₸9,049

40.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ₸2,999

$6.93 ₸3,181

-5.63%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₸881

$1.80 ₸825

6.67%

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

$0.93 ₸426

$1.02 ₸467

-8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₸222

$0.41 ₸188

17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸548

$1.19 ₸547

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₸873

$1.81 ₸831

4.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₸501

$1.15 ₸526

-5.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸176

$0.28 ₸128

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 ₸625

$1.64 ₸753

-17.07%

Eggs

$1.61 ₸737

$1.44 ₸661

11.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 ₸3,923

$8.24 ₸3,781

3.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 ₸2,135

$4.24 ₸1,947

9.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 ₸3,358

$6.53 ₸2,997

12.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸623

$0.94 ₸431

44.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₸898

$1.79 ₸820

9.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ₸907

$1.91 ₸876

3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 ₸873

$1.01 ₸464

88.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸273

$0.47 ₸216

25.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸173

$0.35 ₸160

8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₸423

$0.79 ₸361

16.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₸333

$0.64 ₸291

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 ₸886

$1.92 ₸882

0.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 ₸3,470

$4.38 ₸2,008

72.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸455

$1.01 ₸462

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸736

$1.39 ₸639

15.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸81.4

$0.15 ₸70.3

20.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸457

$0.84 ₸386

19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₸310

$0.67 ₸310

1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ₸2,188

$5.83 ₸2,675

-18.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸228

$0.49 ₸227

2.04%

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

$19.8K ₸9.1M

$19.5K ₸9.0M

1.57%

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

$24.8K ₸11.4M

$24.4K ₸11.2M

1.78%

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

$50.6 ₸23.2K

$50.1 ₸23.0K

1.00%

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

$8.59 ₸3,940

$8.52 ₸3,908

0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.72 ₸5,836

$12.63 ₸5,792

0.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.76 ₸15.0K

$33.54 ₸15.4K

-2.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,552

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 ₸2,082

$4.77 ₸2,188

-4.82%

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

$208 ₸95.6K

$48.41 ₸22.2K

330.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,911 ₸2.3M

$4,897 ₸2.2M

0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 ₸25.9K

$32.48 ₸14.9K

73.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.81 ₸16.0K

$30.48 ₸14.0K

14.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₸40.2K

$122 ₸56.1K

-28.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ₸35.9K

$46.94 ₸21.5K

66.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₸147.0K

$303 ₸139.1K

5.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ₸93.6K

$176 ₸81.0K

15.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 ₸242.3K

$460 ₸211.0K

14.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₸180.2K

$354 ₸162.6K

10.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,214 ₸557.1K

$1,091 ₸500.7K

11.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$701 ₸321.5K

$956 ₸438.7K

-26.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸200.4K

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 Alga: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Alga and $303 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Alga vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $150 per month, with Shymkent cheaper across the board.

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

Alga vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Alga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,096 in Alga and $1,013 in Shymkent to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Alga versus $303 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Alga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $730 per month in Alga versus $675 in Shymkent – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Shymkent gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Alga and Shymkent are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Alga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.