Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Shymkent

😐 Solo nomad: Chengdu is 4.6% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 0.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chengdu is 5.9% cheaper than Shymkent without rent, and 0.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72 ¥18.83
$9.80 ₸4,896
-72.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.31 ¥161
$19.33 ₸9,660
20.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ¥33.09
$6.88 ₸3,438
-30.52%
Cappuccino
$2.86 ¥19.76
$1.85 ₸926
54.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.04
$0.96 ₸478
-54.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.93
$0.44 ₸218
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 ¥7.60
$1.15 ₸576
-4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ¥14.26
$1.81 ₸904
13.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.55
$1.12 ₸558
61.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ¥9.63
$0.30 ₸150
363.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.26
$1.62 ₸809
-44.44%
Eggs
$1.86 ¥12.87
$1.50 ₸749
24.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 ¥96.3
$8.21 ₸4,104
69.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 ¥25.05
$4.34 ₸2,171
-16.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.32 ¥78.4
$6.28 ₸3,136
80.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 ¥13.45
$0.94 ₸468
106.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.47
$1.84 ₸922
-33.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥10.09
$1.89 ₸946
-22.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ¥7.09
$0.99 ₸494
4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.91
$0.44 ₸221
61.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ¥5.14
$0.34 ₸172
117.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.94
$0.77 ₸386
-25.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.20
$0.63 ₸314
-3.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 ¥22.67
$1.96 ₸980
67.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.35 ¥37.04
$4.08 ₸2,039
31.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ¥7.02
$0.96 ₸480
5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ¥13.03
$1.35 ₸676
39.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ¥2.84
$0.13 ₸65.0
215.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.62 ¥191
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 ¥8.80
$0.90 ₸448
41.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.79
$0.68 ₸341
-61.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 ¥28.57
$5.83 ₸2,914
-29.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥8.17
$0.49 ₸247
140.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥129.5K
$19.8K ₸9.9M
-5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K ¥111.7K
$24.3K ₸12.1M
-33.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.59 ¥302
$49.40 ₸24.7K
-11.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52 ¥79.7
$8.72 ₸4,356
32.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.46 ¥79.3
$12.54 ₸6,263
-8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.31 ¥168
$33.89 ₸16.9K
-28.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.25 ¥77.9
$7.69 ₸3,840
46.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ¥39.34
$4.98 ₸2,489
14.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$331 ¥2,287
$49.41 ₸24.7K
569.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K ¥84.1K
$4,849 ₸2.4M
150.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.27 ¥258
$32.90 ₸16.4K
13.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.97 ¥263
$29.59 ₸14.8K
28.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 ¥468
$120 ₸59.7K
-43.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1 ¥353
$46.41 ₸23.2K
10.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$316 ¥2,185
$303 ₸151.6K
4.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 ¥1,280
$173 ₸86.4K
6.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ¥4,230
$467 ₸233.2K
30.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ¥2,254
$361 ₸180.6K
-9.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,985 ¥27.6K
$998 ₸498.4K
299.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,020 ¥14.0K
$897 ₸448.2K
125.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,120 ¥7,753
$403 ₸201.2K
178.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.21
19.5
-78.41%

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

Last update for Chengdu: February 28, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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