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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $899 per month in Atyrau vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,544 per month in Atyrau vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Atyrau vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Atyrau costs about 32% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 ₸4,332

$9.57 ₸4,664

-7.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.46 ₸15.8K

$19.66 ₸9,579

65.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 ₸3,027

$6.77 ₸3,298

-8.27%

Cappuccino

$1.82 ₸886

$1.87 ₸912

-2.67%

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

$1.11 ₸541

$1.01 ₸490

9.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₸383

$0.44 ₸213

79.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₸706

$1.16 ₸563

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸880

$1.91 ₸930

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸695

$1.10 ₸534

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ₸182

$0.30 ₸148

23.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸752

$1.57 ₸767

-1.91%

Eggs

$1.49 ₸726

$1.44 ₸702

3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 ₸4,400

$7.95 ₸3,871

13.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 ₸3,730

$4.24 ₸2,066

80.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₸3,368

$6.50 ₸3,166

6.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₸747

$1.00 ₸489

53.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ₸1,177

$1.84 ₸894

31.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 ₸978

$1.89 ₸920

6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₸737

$1.02 ₸499

48.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸273

$0.47 ₸231

19.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸194

$0.38 ₸184

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₸540

$0.78 ₸378

42.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₸603

$0.64 ₸311

93.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 ₸1,059

$1.91 ₸930

13.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 ₸4,311

$3.97 ₸1,935

122.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₸586

$0.93 ₸454

29.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₸596

$1.38 ₸673

-11.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.16 ₸77.7

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.43 ₸9,463

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 ₸676

$0.84 ₸409

65.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₸123

$0.63 ₸308

-60.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 ₸2,848

$5.91 ₸2,879

-1.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸239

$0.46 ₸222

6.52%

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

$15.5K ₸7.5M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

-21.96%

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

$23.1K ₸11.2M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

-5.99%

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

$46.44 ₸22.6K

$51.1 ₸24.9K

-9.03%

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

$9.52 ₸4,638

$8.84 ₸4,306

7.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 ₸6,147

$12.49 ₸6,086

1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₸28.2K

$32.82 ₸16.0K

76.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,748

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ₸2,658

$4.75 ₸2,315

14.95%

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

$254 ₸123.9K

$49.35 ₸24.0K

415.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,075 ₸1.5M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-37.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.85 ₸14.5K

$32.43 ₸15.8K

-7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.52 ₸18.8K

$30.01 ₸14.6K

28.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 ₸38.0K

$123 ₸59.7K

-36.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 ₸38.1K

$46.31 ₸22.6K

69.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₸224.8K

$306 ₸149.1K

50.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸147.8K

$177 ₸86.4K

71.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₸479.9K

$470 ₸229.2K

109.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$796 ₸387.9K

$354 ₸172.4K

124.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$855 ₸416.4K

$1,040 ₸506.5K

-17.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$649 ₸316.1K

$911 ₸443.6K

-28.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$668 ₸325.2K

$401 ₸195.1K

66.65%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Atyrau 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 67% 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 $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

Atyrau vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $899 in Atyrau, $679 in Shymkent – roughly 32% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,349 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 $899 in Atyrau and $679 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $254 per month in Atyrau and $49.35 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 $679, than in Atyrau at $899. 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.