Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Shymkent

😐 Solo nomad: Karaganda is 15.6% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Karaganda is 6.6% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 9.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.28 ₸4,235
$9.88 ₸5,053
-16.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91 ₸14.8K
$19.57 ₸10K
47.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.77 ₸2,438
$6.73 ₸3,441
-29.12%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ₸934
$1.86 ₸951
-1.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₸326
$0.95 ₸487
-32.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₸238
$0.4 ₸205
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ₸481
$1.14 ₸582
-17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₸1,467
$1.91 ₸976
50.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 ₸512
$1.12 ₸570
-10.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸222
$0.28 ₸141
57.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 ₸635
$1.62 ₸830
-23.46%
Eggs
$1.77 ₸906
$1.46 ₸745
21.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 ₸4,781
$8.28 ₸4,233
12.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.26 ₸2,178
$4.16 ₸2,126
2.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.22 ₸3,692
$6.25 ₸3,194
15.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.3 ₸667
$1.02 ₸522
27.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₸739
$1.85 ₸947
-21.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₸987
$1.85 ₸944
4.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 ₸984
$1.03 ₸525
86.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.6 ₸306
$0.44 ₸226
36.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.4 ₸206
$0.35 ₸177
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1 ₸509
$0.84 ₸429
19.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.7 ₸356
$0.64 ₸330
9.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.8 ₸920
$1.98 ₸1,011
-9.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.14 ₸3,139
$3.86 ₸1,972
59.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1 ₸514
$0.95 ₸484
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 ₸868
$1.34 ₸687
26.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 ₸106
$0.14 ₸73.5
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.96 ₸6,115
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₸924
$0.86 ₸439
110.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 ₸236
$0.64 ₸326
-28.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₸2,281
$5.98 ₸3,056
-25.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸245
$0.46 ₸236
4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ₸9.9M
$19.3K ₸9.8M
0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K ₸12.8M
$24.6K ₸12.6M
1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.9 ₸28.1K
$49.26 ₸25.2K
11.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.1 ₸4,140
$8.51 ₸4,352
-4.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.07 ₸6,682
$12.82 ₸6,554
1.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.16 ₸16.4K
$33.14 ₸16.9K
-2.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69 ₸5,976
$7.73 ₸3,955
51.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 ₸2,368
$4.87 ₸2,490
-4.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 ₸121K
$49.39 ₸25.3K
378.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,789 ₸2.4M
$4,780 ₸2.4M
0.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 ₸28.4K
$32.53 ₸16.6K
70.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.84 ₸17.8K
$29.51 ₸15.1K
18.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 ₸45.4K
$123 ₸62.8K
-27.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86 ₸44K
$45.5 ₸23.3K
88.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$329 ₸168.5K
$297 ₸152K
10.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 ₸108.3K
$175 ₸89.4K
21.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 ₸296.8K
$478 ₸244.3K
21.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₸205.5K
$354 ₸180.8K
13.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$983 ₸502.8K
$927 ₸473.9K
6.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$626 ₸320.1K
$827 ₸423.2K
-24.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$434 ₸221.9K
$367 ₸187.6K
18.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.12
19.5
-17.33%

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

Last update for Karaganda: October 29, 2025

Last update for Shymkent: October 28, 2025

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