Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Atyrau and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $907 per month in Atyrau vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,516 per month in Atyrau vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,126 per month in Atyrau vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.05 ₸4,261

$9.93 ₸4,676

-8.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.61 ₸14.9K

$19.90 ₸9,368

58.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 ₸2,978

$6.99 ₸3,292

-9.44%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₸864

$1.85 ₸869

-0.54%

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

$1.16 ₸547

$0.99 ₸467

17.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸364

$0.41 ₸192

87.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₸710

$1.15 ₸543

31.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸850

$1.91 ₸900

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ₸680

$1.15 ₸542

25.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸191

$0.30 ₸142

36.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸724

$1.63 ₸768

-5.52%

Eggs

$1.47 ₸694

$1.44 ₸677

2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 ₸4,190

$7.92 ₸3,730

12.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.45 ₸3,505

$4.18 ₸1,970

78.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.30 ₸3,438

$6.47 ₸3,047

12.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₸722

$0.96 ₸451

59.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₸1,086

$1.78 ₸838

29.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸917

$1.91 ₸898

2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₸691

$1.02 ₸481

44.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 ₸281

$0.48 ₸224

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸174

$0.38 ₸178

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₸538

$0.79 ₸373

44.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₸584

$0.69 ₸323

79.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₸993

$1.99 ₸939

6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 ₸4,264

$4.33 ₸2,037

109.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸577

$0.94 ₸444

30.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₸600

$1.33 ₸628

-4.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸142

$0.14 ₸64.1

114.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.83 ₸9,336

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸627

$0.89 ₸419

49.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₸118

$0.62 ₸294

-59.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 ₸2,750

$5.80 ₸2,729

0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸231

$0.50 ₸234

-2.00%

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

$15.9K ₸7.5M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

-17.60%

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

$23.2K ₸10.9M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

-2.86%

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

$46.65 ₸22.0K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

-7.51%

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

$9.51 ₸4,477

$8.64 ₸4,066

10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.60 ₸5,933

$12.73 ₸5,991

-1.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.2 ₸27.4K

$33.03 ₸15.6K

76.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,676

Cinema Ticket

$5.44 ₸2,560

$5.04 ₸2,371

7.94%

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

$255 ₸120.1K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

428.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,024 ₸1.4M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

-37.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.62 ₸13.9K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

-10.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.91 ₸18.3K

$29.87 ₸14.1K

30.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₸36.1K

$120 ₸56.5K

-36.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 ₸37.2K

$46.86 ₸22.1K

68.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ₸213.1K

$297 ₸139.9K

52.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸142.6K

$174 ₸81.8K

74.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 ₸456.2K

$475 ₸223.6K

104.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸372.3K

$365 ₸171.8K

116.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$868 ₸408.4K

$1,039 ₸489.3K

-16.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$669 ₸315.0K

$935 ₸440.4K

-28.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 ₸322.8K

$415 ₸195.5K

65.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

53.85%

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

Last update for Atyrau: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Atyrau 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 65% higher in Atyrau, 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 $32.00 in Atyrau versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 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

Atyrau vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $907 in Atyrau, $678 in Shymkent – roughly 34% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,361 per month in Atyrau 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 $907 in Atyrau and $678 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Atyrau and $48.24 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 $678, than in Atyrau at $907. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau 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, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.