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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Almaty costs about 76% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Almaty and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$10.77 ₸4,907

19.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

38.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$6.63 ₸3,021

29.86%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$2.39 ₸1,091

31.80%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$1.02 ₸467

30.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.53 ₸242

54.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.05 ₸480

131.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$1.33 ₸607

194.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸750

$1.46 ₸666

13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.42 ₸193

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸950

$1.72 ₸783

20.93%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$1.63 ₸741

41.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$10.25 ₸4,670

19.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.14 ₸2,343

29.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,888

$8.80 ₸4,009

21.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.18 ₸538

56.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$2.09 ₸954

12.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$2.50 ₸1,139

16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,262

$1.35 ₸614

105.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.53 ₸244

41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.40 ₸181

42.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$0.86 ₸392

86.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.83 ₸380

16.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.46 ₸1,121

4.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,899

$4.36 ₸1,987

146.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.04 ₸476

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$1.54 ₸703

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.13 ₸60.1

92.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,589

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$0.83 ₸377

60.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$0.37 ₸166

70.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,970

$9.78 ₸4,457

11.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.59 ₸267

13.56%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-2.47%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

1.63%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

94.37%

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

$10.95 ₸4,988

$9.10 ₸4,145

20.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,958

$14.64 ₸6,671

19.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

94.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$8.60 ₸3,920

240.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$5.40 ₸2,462

17.04%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

653.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

142.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

41.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$182 ₸82.9K

-23.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

154.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$333 ₸151.8K

137.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.7K

$202 ₸91.9K

146.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.4K

$693 ₸315.7K

106.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$550 ₸250.7K

65.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,075 ₸489.6K

127.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.2K

$974 ₸443.6K

54.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$432 ₸196.9K

96.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

18.25

12.93%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty 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 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 $45.00 in Almaty versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $183 – 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 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty 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 $1,364 in Almaty and $776 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Almaty and $56.5 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 $776, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.