Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $892 per month in Astana vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Astana vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,961 per month in Astana vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

Astana costs about 31% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 ₸3,889

$9.93 ₸4,669

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.74 ₸14.0K

$19.90 ₸9,353

49.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ₸2,697

$6.99 ₸3,287

-17.88%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₸1,045

$1.85 ₸868

20.00%

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

$0.91 ₸429

$0.99 ₸467

-8.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸266

$0.41 ₸192

39.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸557

$1.15 ₸542

2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,413

$1.91 ₸898

57.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸456

$1.15 ₸541

-15.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸219

$0.30 ₸142

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₸650

$1.63 ₸767

-15.34%

Eggs

$1.69 ₸794

$1.44 ₸676

17.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 ₸4,460

$7.92 ₸3,724

19.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,269

$4.18 ₸1,967

15.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₸3,281

$6.47 ₸3,042

7.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₸643

$0.96 ₸450

42.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸863

$1.78 ₸837

3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸895

$1.91 ₸896

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₸886

$1.02 ₸480

84.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸262

$0.48 ₸224

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸176

$0.38 ₸178

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸449

$0.79 ₸373

21.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸349

$0.69 ₸322

7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 ₸895

$1.99 ₸937

-4.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.54 ₸4,482

$4.33 ₸2,034

120.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸455

$0.94 ₸443

3.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₸789

$1.33 ₸627

26.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸108

$0.14 ₸64.0

64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 ₸6,955

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₸844

$0.89 ₸418

102.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸333

$0.62 ₸294

14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 ₸2,028

$5.80 ₸2,724

-25.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 ₸239

$0.50 ₸234

2.00%

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

$20.3K ₸9.5M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

4.96%

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

$25.2K ₸11.9M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

5.68%

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

$53.3 ₸25.0K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

5.57%

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

$8.34 ₸3,918

$8.64 ₸4,060

-3.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,438

$12.73 ₸5,981

7.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₸24.0K

$33.03 ₸15.5K

54.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ₸5,150

$7.81 ₸3,670

40.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₸2,454

$5.04 ₸2,367

3.57%

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

$239 ₸112.3K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

395.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,800 ₸2.3M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

-1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 ₸27.0K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

73.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 ₸16.5K

$29.87 ₸14.0K

17.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₸41.2K

$120 ₸56.4K

-27.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 ₸41.2K

$46.86 ₸22.0K

87.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ₸219.4K

$297 ₸139.7K

57.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₸151.6K

$174 ₸81.7K

85.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₸404.3K

$475 ₸223.2K

81.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₸276.0K

$365 ₸171.5K

60.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₸662.3K

$1,039 ₸488.5K

35.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,013 ₸476.3K

$935 ₸439.7K

8.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$845 ₸397.2K

$415 ₸195.2K

103.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

19.5

-17.33%

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

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Astana versus $297 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 104% higher in Astana, 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 $30.00 in Astana versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $149 – 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

Astana vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $892 in Astana, $678 in Shymkent – roughly 31% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Astana 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Astana and $20.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $892 in Astana and $678 in Shymkent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $678 in Shymkent to $892 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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