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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chengdu is 2.7% cheaper than Shymkent without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chengdu is 5.2% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 2.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 ¥18.73
$9.81 ₸4,614
-72.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.43 ¥160
$19.23 ₸9,047
21.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ¥32.73
$6.88 ₸3,237
-30.52%
Cappuccino
$2.76 ¥18.87
$1.80 ₸847
53.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.16
$1.03 ₸483
-55.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.90
$0.41 ₸191
-31.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ¥7.42
$1.18 ₸557
-8.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥13.90
$1.88 ₸883
7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ¥11.86
$1.15 ₸540
50.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ¥9.97
$0.30 ₸142
386.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.80
$1.57 ₸739
-45.86%
Eggs
$1.84 ¥12.55
$1.50 ₸708
22.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.90 ¥95.1
$7.89 ₸3,712
76.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 ¥24.19
$4.40 ₸2,071
-19.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.25 ¥76.9
$6.44 ₸3,033
74.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ¥13.23
$1.03 ₸483
87.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.33
$1.87 ₸881
-34.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ¥10.34
$1.89 ₸891
-20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ¥7.08
$1.03 ₸483
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.85
$0.44 ₸209
61.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ¥5.07
$0.35 ₸163
111.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ¥3.78
$0.77 ₸363
-28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ¥4.12
$0.67 ₸316
-10.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ¥23.23
$1.90 ₸894
78.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.40 ¥36.91
$4.31 ₸2,028
25.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ¥6.83
$1.02 ₸480
-1.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ¥12.25
$1.35 ₸637
32.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.01
$0.14 ₸65.0
214.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.63 ¥189
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ¥8.37
$0.90 ₸422
35.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.76
$0.68 ₸319
-61.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 ¥28.39
$5.89 ₸2,770
-29.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥7.94
$0.50 ₸237
132.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ¥126.5K
$19.7K ₸9.2M
-5.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥114.0K
$24.4K ₸11.5M
-31.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.46 ¥304
$49.67 ₸23.4K
-10.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.84 ¥81.0
$8.62 ₸4,056
37.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.42 ¥78.1
$12.89 ₸6,065
-11.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.13 ¥165
$33.59 ₸15.8K
-28.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.28 ¥77.2
$7.91 ₸3,721
42.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50 ¥37.62
$4.95 ₸2,327
11.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 ¥2,301
$48.85 ₸23.0K
588.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ¥84.2K
$4,896 ₸2.3M
151.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.50 ¥250
$33.15 ₸15.6K
10.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.76 ¥265
$30.12 ₸14.2K
28.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.9 ¥458
$118 ₸55.7K
-43.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.70 ¥340
$47.02 ₸22.1K
5.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$316 ¥2,161
$303 ₸142.4K
4.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 ¥1,264
$179 ₸84.4K
3.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$608 ¥4,160
$466 ₸219.5K
30.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ¥2,248
$362 ₸170.3K
-9.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,962 ¥27.1K
$1,035 ₸487.0K
282.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,017 ¥13.8K
$944 ₸444.2K
113.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,191 ¥8,144
$413 ₸194.2K
188.44%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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