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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Almaty costs about 56% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,911

$9.57 ₸4,664

-16.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.7K

$19.66 ₸9,579

95.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,396

$6.77 ₸3,298

2.95%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,167

$1.87 ₸912

28.34%

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

$0.98 ₸475

$1.01 ₸490

-2.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸276

$0.44 ₸213

29.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸683

$1.16 ₸563

20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,455

$1.91 ₸930

56.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸640

$1.10 ₸534

19.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸291

$0.30 ₸148

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸751

$1.57 ₸767

-1.91%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸847

$1.44 ₸702

20.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,744

$7.95 ₸3,871

22.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,288

$4.24 ₸2,066

10.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,656

$6.50 ₸3,166

15.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸657

$1.00 ₸489

35.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸964

$1.84 ₸894

7.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸951

$1.89 ₸920

3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,008

$1.02 ₸499

102.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸306

$0.47 ₸231

34.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸205

$0.38 ₸184

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸604

$0.78 ₸378

58.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸344

$0.64 ₸311

10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸960

$1.91 ₸930

3.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,917

$3.97 ₸1,935

154.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸431

$0.93 ₸454

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸993

$1.38 ₸673

47.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸117

$0.16 ₸77.7

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸564

$0.84 ₸409

38.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸341

$0.63 ₸308

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,341

$5.91 ₸2,879

-18.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸238

$0.46 ₸222

6.52%

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

$23.2K ₸11.3M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

17.05%

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

$27.2K ₸13.3M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

10.94%

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

$63.8 ₸31.1K

$51.1 ₸24.9K

25.03%

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

$8.60 ₸4,188

$8.84 ₸4,306

-2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,737

$12.49 ₸6,086

10.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.7K

$32.82 ₸16.0K

48.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.3K

$7.69 ₸3,748

176.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,490

$4.75 ₸2,315

7.58%

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

$267 ₸130.0K

$49.35 ₸24.0K

440.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

160.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸40.9K

$32.43 ₸15.8K

158.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.2K

$30.01 ₸14.6K

44.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.2K

$123 ₸59.7K

-21.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.2K

$46.31 ₸22.6K

157.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸324.0K

$306 ₸149.1K

117.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸204.4K

$177 ₸86.4K

136.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸572.4K

$470 ₸229.2K

149.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸376.7K

$354 ₸172.4K

118.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$1,040 ₸506.5K

106.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸610.9K

$911 ₸443.6K

37.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸384.6K

$401 ₸195.1K

97.09%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty 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 97% higher in Almaty, 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 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

Almaty vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Almaty 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 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $679 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Almaty and $49.35 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.