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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Astana costs about 34% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 ₸3,947

$9.57 ₸4,664

-15.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.85 ₸14.1K

$19.66 ₸9,579

46.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 ₸2,805

$6.77 ₸3,298

-14.92%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,069

$1.87 ₸912

17.11%

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

$0.91 ₸445

$1.01 ₸490

-9.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸260

$0.44 ₸213

20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸556

$1.16 ₸563

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,436

$1.91 ₸930

54.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₸493

$1.10 ₸534

-8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸245

$0.30 ₸148

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸682

$1.57 ₸767

-10.83%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸871

$1.44 ₸702

24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 ₸4,549

$7.95 ₸3,871

17.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₸2,306

$4.24 ₸2,066

11.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₸3,390

$6.50 ₸3,166

7.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸663

$1.00 ₸489

36.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸910

$1.84 ₸894

1.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸937

$1.89 ₸920

1.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸962

$1.02 ₸499

93.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸284

$0.47 ₸231

23.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸496

$0.78 ₸378

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸365

$0.64 ₸311

17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 ₸880

$1.91 ₸930

-5.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ₸4,452

$3.97 ₸1,935

130.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸498

$0.93 ₸454

9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₸826

$1.38 ₸673

23.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸102

$0.16 ₸77.7

31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,095

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₸871

$0.84 ₸409

113.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸346

$0.63 ₸308

12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 ₸2,197

$5.91 ₸2,879

-23.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸227

$0.46 ₸222

2.17%

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

$20.7K ₸10.1M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

4.61%

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

$24.7K ₸12.1M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

0.78%

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

$53.9 ₸26.3K

$51.1 ₸24.9K

5.66%

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

$8.00 ₸3,899

$8.84 ₸4,306

-9.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,769

$12.49 ₸6,086

11.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 ₸24.3K

$32.82 ₸16.0K

51.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,434

$7.69 ₸3,748

45.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₸2,579

$4.75 ₸2,315

11.58%

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

$238 ₸116.1K

$49.35 ₸24.0K

382.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,790 ₸2.3M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-2.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₸27.2K

$32.43 ₸15.8K

71.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₸17.0K

$30.01 ₸14.6K

16.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 ₸43.3K

$123 ₸59.7K

-27.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₸41.9K

$46.31 ₸22.6K

85.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₸232.8K

$306 ₸149.1K

56.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸159.7K

$177 ₸86.4K

84.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 ₸413.3K

$470 ₸229.2K

80.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₸291.1K

$354 ₸172.4K

68.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₸671.3K

$1,040 ₸506.5K

32.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸483.6K

$911 ₸443.6K

9.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 ₸388.9K

$401 ₸195.1K

99.30%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana 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 99% 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 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

Astana vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $912 in Astana, $679 in Shymkent – roughly 34% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 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 $29.00 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 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 $679, than in Astana at $912. 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 $679 in Shymkent to $912 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.