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: $742 in Alga versus $695 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Alga versus $1,083 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,620 in Alga versus $1,472 in Shymkent.

Living in Alga is roughly 7% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alga 45% lower, Shymkent 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 ₸3,722

$9.50 ₸4,638

-19.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.25 ₸13.3K

$19.80 ₸9,670

37.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₸3,135

$6.97 ₸3,407

-7.89%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ₸892

$1.85 ₸903

-1.08%

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

$0.96 ₸470

$1.02 ₸498

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸256

$0.43 ₸211

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸566

$1.20 ₸585

-3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₸920

$1.90 ₸929

-1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸537

$1.12 ₸546

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₸190

$0.28 ₸135

39.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ₸690

$1.59 ₸776

-11.32%

Eggs

$1.59 ₸778

$1.46 ₸711

8.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 ₸4,200

$8.15 ₸3,982

5.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 ₸2,210

$4.30 ₸2,099

5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 ₸3,545

$6.50 ₸3,173

11.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸656

$1.03 ₸501

30.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 ₸917

$1.81 ₸883

3.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸945

$1.87 ₸914

3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₸966

$0.99 ₸482

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸272

$0.45 ₸219

24.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸196

$0.35 ₸169

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₸495

$0.82 ₸403

23.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₸352

$0.63 ₸309

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸933

$1.99 ₸971

-4.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₸3,682

$4.15 ₸2,028

81.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸485

$0.95 ₸466

4.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸783

$1.34 ₸655

19.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₸84.7

$0.13 ₸61.9

30.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 ₸472

$0.92 ₸451

5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸303

$0.67 ₸326

-7.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 ₸2,272

$6.01 ₸2,937

-22.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸224

$0.50 ₸246

-8.00%

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

$19.7K ₸9.6M

$19.2K ₸9.4M

2.58%

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

$24.2K ₸11.8M

$23.9K ₸11.7M

1.25%

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

$51.2 ₸25.0K

$50.3 ₸24.5K

1.83%

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

$8.85 ₸4,324

$8.79 ₸4,295

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 ₸6,316

$12.41 ₸6,063

4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.37 ₸16.3K

$33.03 ₸16.1K

1.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₸3,751

Cinema Ticket

$4.48 ₸2,189

$4.91 ₸2,398

-8.76%

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

$212 ₸103.4K

$49.20 ₸24.0K

330.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,835 ₸2.4M

$4,815 ₸2.4M

0.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 ₸27.9K

$32.19 ₸15.7K

77.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.75 ₸17.0K

$30.03 ₸14.7K

15.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 ₸43.2K

$120 ₸58.5K

-26.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 ₸38.1K

$46.08 ₸22.5K

69.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₸154.1K

$308 ₸150.4K

2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₸97.8K

$174 ₸85.1K

14.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₸253.6K

$474 ₸231.3K

9.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸188.5K

$363 ₸177.4K

6.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$948 ₸463.1K

$1,032 ₸503.8K

-8.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 ₸405.1K

$898 ₸438.7K

-7.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 ₸201.0K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Alga and $308 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Alga vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $149 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 7% 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 $1,113 in Alga and $1,042 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: $315 in Alga versus $308 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 $742 per month in Alga versus $695 in Shymkent – a 7% 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 7% less than in Alga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.