Cost of Living Comparison Between Ekibastuz and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Ekibastuz and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $824 per month in Ekibastuz vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Ekibastuz vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,789 per month in Ekibastuz vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Ekibastuz costs about 6% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ekibastuz and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Ekibastuz 40% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 ₸4,373

$10.77 ₸4,907

-10.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.58 ₸16.7K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

12.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.37 ₸3,358

$6.63 ₸3,020

11.16%

Cappuccino

$1.50 ₸685

$2.39 ₸1,091

-37.24%

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

$1.11 ₸506

$1.02 ₸466

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₸277

$0.53 ₸242

15.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₸653

$1.05 ₸480

36.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸959

$1.33 ₸607

58.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ₸574

$1.46 ₸666

-13.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.42 ₸193

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 ₸767

$1.72 ₸783

-2.33%

Eggs

$2.23 ₸1,018

$1.63 ₸741

36.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.66 ₸5,311

$10.25 ₸4,670

13.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 ₸2,618

$5.14 ₸2,343

11.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 ₸4,624

$8.80 ₸4,009

15.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 ₸799

$1.18 ₸538

48.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.41 ₸1,100

$2.09 ₸954

15.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₸1,048

$2.50 ₸1,139

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₸1,063

$1.35 ₸614

72.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ₸330

$0.53 ₸244

35.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₸209

$0.40 ₸181

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 ₸680

$0.86 ₸392

73.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸400

$0.83 ₸380

6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 ₸1,016

$2.46 ₸1,121

-9.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.98 ₸5,002

$4.36 ₸1,987

151.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸597

$1.04 ₸476

25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₸1,088

$1.54 ₸703

55.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸105

$0.13 ₸60.1

76.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 ₸500

$0.83 ₸377

32.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ₸477

$0.37 ₸166

183.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 ₸2,978

$9.78 ₸4,457

-33.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₸251

$0.59 ₸267

-6.78%

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

$23.8K ₸10.9M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-11.40%

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

$30.1K ₸13.7M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

3.60%

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

$64.2 ₸29.2K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

37.95%

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

$10.13 ₸4,613

$9.10 ₸4,144

11.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 ₸7,895

$14.64 ₸6,671

18.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₸17.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,920

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ₸2,816

$5.40 ₸2,461

14.44%

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

$369 ₸168.1K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

553.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 ₸31.2K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

91.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.31 ₸20.6K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

36.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₸52.6K

$182 ₸82.9K

-36.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.9K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

144.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₸109.0K

$333 ₸151.8K

-28.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸80.8K

$202 ₸91.9K

-12.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ₸194.9K

$693 ₸315.7K

-38.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ₸150.2K

$550 ₸250.6K

-40.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 ₸489.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 ₸443.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$326 ₸148.4K

$432 ₸196.9K

-24.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

18.25

-11.23%

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

Last update for Ekibastuz: August 29, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Ekibastuz versus $333 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 33% higher in Shymkent, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Ekibastuz versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $183 – 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

Ekibastuz vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $824 in Ekibastuz, $776 in Shymkent – roughly 6% apart. Ekibastuz costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,236 per month in Ekibastuz and $1,165 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 $824 in Ekibastuz and $776 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $369 per month in Ekibastuz and $56.5 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $824 in Ekibastuz and $776 in Shymkent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Ekibastuz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.