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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Astana vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Astana vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,433 per month in Astana vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Astana costs about 39% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Astana 21% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.99 ₸4,552

$10.77 ₸4,907

-7.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.61 ₸16.7K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

12.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ₸3,496

$6.63 ₸3,020

15.69%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₸1,147

$2.39 ₸1,091

5.44%

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

$1.11 ₸505

$1.02 ₸466

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸289

$0.53 ₸242

18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₸650

$1.05 ₸480

36.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₸1,012

$1.33 ₸607

66.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₸588

$1.46 ₸666

-11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.42 ₸193

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₸739

$1.72 ₸783

-5.81%

Eggs

$2.32 ₸1,055

$1.63 ₸741

42.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 ₸5,203

$10.25 ₸4,670

11.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₸2,507

$5.14 ₸2,343

7.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ₸4,607

$8.80 ₸4,009

14.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₸777

$1.18 ₸538

44.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,076

$2.09 ₸954

12.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.50 ₸1,139

-11.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₸1,088

$1.35 ₸614

77.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸342

$0.53 ₸244

41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₸209

$0.40 ₸181

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ₸685

$0.86 ₸392

74.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸396

$0.83 ₸380

4.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.46 ₸1,121

-10.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ₸4,842

$4.36 ₸1,987

143.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸596

$1.04 ₸476

25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₸1,103

$1.54 ₸703

57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸104

$0.13 ₸60.1

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.48 ₸7,509

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₸1,205

$0.83 ₸377

218.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 ₸502

$0.37 ₸166

197.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 ₸2,883

$9.78 ₸4,457

-35.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸266

$0.59 ₸267

-1.69%

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

$23.4K ₸10.7M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-12.94%

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

$30.7K ₸14.0M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

5.77%

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

$65.1 ₸29.7K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

39.95%

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

$10.26 ₸4,672

$9.10 ₸4,144

12.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.10 ₸7,789

$14.64 ₸6,671

16.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ₸26.1K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

47.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 ₸9,120

$8.60 ₸3,920

132.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₸2,798

$5.40 ₸2,461

13.70%

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

$371 ₸168.9K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

556.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₸30.2K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

85.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 ₸20.8K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

37.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₸52.5K

$182 ₸82.9K

-36.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.8K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

143.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₸248.5K

$333 ₸151.8K

63.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₸172.4K

$202 ₸91.9K

87.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 ₸525.4K

$693 ₸315.7K

66.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ₸341.5K

$550 ₸250.6K

36.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,437 ₸654.8K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

33.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₸488.2K

$974 ₸443.6K

10.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 ₸388.5K

$432 ₸196.9K

97.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

18.25

-11.23%

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

Last update for Astana: August 29, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Astana 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 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 $37.00 in Astana versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 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

Astana vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,081 in Astana, $776 in Shymkent – roughly 39% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Astana 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Astana and $32.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Astana at $1,081. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $776 in Shymkent to $1,081 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.