Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Shymkent

😐 Solo nomad: Almaty is 30.4% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 51.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Almaty is 20.3% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 53.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 ₸3,981
$9.80 ₸4,872
-18.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.87 ₸19.3K
$19.33 ₸9,612
101.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 ₸3,492
$6.88 ₸3,421
2.03%
Cappuccino
$2.38 ₸1,183
$1.85 ₸921
28.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₸453
$0.96 ₸476
-5.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₸267
$0.44 ₸217
22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 ₸667
$1.15 ₸573
16.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₸1,420
$1.81 ₸900
58.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ₸630
$1.12 ₸556
13.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₸293
$0.30 ₸149
96.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ₸745
$1.62 ₸805
-7.41%
Eggs
$1.74 ₸863
$1.50 ₸745
16.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.44 ₸4,692
$8.21 ₸4,083
14.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.68 ₸2,324
$4.34 ₸2,160
7.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.58 ₸3,770
$6.28 ₸3,120
20.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ₸676
$0.94 ₸466
44.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 ₸945
$1.84 ₸917
3.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₸981
$1.89 ₸942
4.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ₸1,027
$0.99 ₸492
109.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 ₸286
$0.44 ₸220
29.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸210
$0.34 ₸171
23.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 ₸650
$0.77 ₸384
70.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₸348
$0.63 ₸313
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 ₸989
$1.96 ₸975
1.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 ₸3,995
$4.08 ₸2,029
97.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸448
$0.96 ₸477
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₸1,054
$1.35 ₸673
57.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸120
$0.13 ₸64.7
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.04 ₸8,966
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₸589
$0.90 ₸446
32.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₸349
$0.68 ₸339
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 ₸2,344
$5.83 ₸2,899
-19.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸241
$0.49 ₸246
-2.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K ₸11.5M
$19.8K ₸9.9M
17.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K ₸13.2M
$24.3K ₸12.1M
9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ₸30.9K
$49.40 ₸24.6K
25.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50 ₸4,225
$8.72 ₸4,334
-2.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.46 ₸6,694
$12.54 ₸6,232
7.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.24 ₸23.5K
$33.89 ₸16.8K
39.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55 ₸10.7K
$7.69 ₸3,821
180.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 ₸2,671
$4.98 ₸2,476
7.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₸129.5K
$49.41 ₸24.6K
427.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.4M
$4,849 ₸2.4M
165.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 ₸42.2K
$32.90 ₸16.4K
158.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.20 ₸21.5K
$29.59 ₸14.7K
46.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₸49.2K
$120 ₸59.4K
-17.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₸60.1K
$46.41 ₸23.1K
160.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$657 ₸326.7K
$303 ₸150.8K
116.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$416 ₸207.0K
$173 ₸86.0K
140.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 ₸583.7K
$467 ₸232.0K
151.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 ₸384.1K
$361 ₸179.7K
113.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,004 ₸996.2K
$998 ₸495.9K
100.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 ₸568.1K
$897 ₸445.9K
27.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 ₸372.8K
$403 ₸200.2K
86.25%
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 Almaty: March 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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