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

😐 Solo nomad: Karaganda is 11% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karaganda is 1.4% cheaper than Shymkent without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.28 ₸4,134
$9.80 ₸4,890
-15.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.23 ₸14.6K
$19.33 ₸9,647
51.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 ₸2,417
$6.88 ₸3,434
-29.65%
Cappuccino
$1.90 ₸948
$1.85 ₸924
2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₸329
$0.96 ₸478
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₸250
$0.44 ₸218
13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ₸483
$1.15 ₸575
-15.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₸1,425
$1.81 ₸903
58.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 ₸496
$1.12 ₸558
-11.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 ₸230
$0.30 ₸150
53.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 ₸646
$1.62 ₸808
-20.37%
Eggs
$1.78 ₸886
$1.50 ₸748
18.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₸4,636
$8.21 ₸4,098
13.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 ₸2,136
$4.34 ₸2,168
-1.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.92 ₸3,452
$6.28 ₸3,132
10.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 ₸657
$0.94 ₸468
40.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₸748
$1.84 ₸921
-18.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₸983
$1.89 ₸945
4.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₸988
$0.99 ₸493
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ₸275
$0.44 ₸221
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₸203
$0.34 ₸172
20.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ₸491
$0.77 ₸385
27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₸354
$0.63 ₸314
12.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79 ₸895
$1.96 ₸979
-8.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.70 ₸3,842
$4.08 ₸2,037
88.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₸506
$0.96 ₸479
5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₸852
$1.35 ₸675
26.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 ₸95.2
$0.13 ₸64.9
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ₸5,771
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.72 ₸856
$0.90 ₸447
91.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 ₸228
$0.68 ₸341
-32.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.52 ₸2,255
$5.83 ₸2,910
-22.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸241
$0.49 ₸247
-2.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ₸9.5M
$19.8K ₸9.9M
-4.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K ₸12.5M
$24.3K ₸12.1M
2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.0 ₸26.4K
$49.40 ₸24.6K
7.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.03 ₸4,005
$8.72 ₸4,350
-7.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.83 ₸6,401
$12.54 ₸6,255
2.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.76 ₸16.3K
$33.89 ₸16.9K
-3.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.94 ₸5,956
$7.69 ₸3,835
55.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 ₸2,277
$4.98 ₸2,485
-8.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 ₸120.8K
$49.41 ₸24.7K
390.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,777 ₸2.4M
$4,849 ₸2.4M
-1.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ₸28.1K
$32.90 ₸16.4K
71.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.87 ₸17.9K
$29.59 ₸14.8K
21.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 ₸44.1K
$120 ₸59.6K
-25.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 ₸42.0K
$46.41 ₸23.2K
81.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ₸167.3K
$303 ₸151.4K
10.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 ₸103.7K
$173 ₸86.3K
20.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 ₸290.9K
$467 ₸232.9K
24.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 ₸199.1K
$361 ₸180.3K
10.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$950 ₸474.1K
$998 ₸497.8K
-4.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₸325.8K
$897 ₸447.5K
-27.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ₸250.5K
$403 ₸200.9K
24.68%
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: March 1, 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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