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

🙂 Solo nomad: Karaganda is 5.6% cheaper than Shymkent without rent, and 12.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Karaganda is 26.5% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.52 ₸4,350

$9.79 ₸4,998

-12.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.06 ₸14.8K

$19.71 ₸10.1K

47.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ₸2,440

$6.82 ₸3,482

-29.91%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ₸977

$1.78 ₸908

7.30%

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

$0.64 ₸325

$0.95 ₸485

-32.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸240

$0.40 ₸204

17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ₸488

$1.20 ₸613

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₸1,487

$1.82 ₸929

59.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸495

$1.11 ₸566

-12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸222

$0.28 ₸143

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ₸637

$1.63 ₸834

-23.31%

Eggs

$1.70 ₸868

$1.44 ₸735

18.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₸4,748

$7.97 ₸4,070

16.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 ₸2,174

$4.24 ₸2,165

0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.99 ₸3,568

$6.27 ₸3,201

11.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 ₸671

$0.95 ₸486

37.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₸763

$1.85 ₸943

-19.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ₸1,023

$1.84 ₸941

8.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 ₸983

$0.97 ₸497

98.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸282

$0.48 ₸243

14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸209

$0.35 ₸178

17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₸485

$0.82 ₸421

15.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸381

$0.68 ₸349

10.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 ₸892

$1.97 ₸1,004

-11.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₸3,848

$3.95 ₸2,016

90.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸514

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₸859

$1.33 ₸680

26.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸92.1

$0.14 ₸69.3

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 ₸6,110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 ₸888

$0.91 ₸464

91.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 ₸216

$0.67 ₸342

-37.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.37 ₸2,231

$5.90 ₸3,015

-25.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸244

$0.50 ₸255

-4.00%

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

$18.8K ₸9.6M

$19.5K ₸10.0M

-3.60%

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

$24.9K ₸12.7M

$23.7K ₸12.1M

5.20%

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

$54.7 ₸27.9K

$50.8 ₸25.9K

7.66%

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

$8.27 ₸4,224

$8.82 ₸4,504

-6.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.03 ₸6,656

$12.48 ₸6,375

4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.60 ₸16.6K

$33.56 ₸17.1K

-2.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 ₸5,896

$7.59 ₸3,874

52.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 ₸2,362

$5.00 ₸2,552

-7.60%

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

$238 ₸121.5K

$49.39 ₸25.2K

381.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,933 ₸2.5M

$4,798 ₸2.5M

2.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 ₸28.8K

$32.47 ₸16.6K

73.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.40 ₸18.1K

$29.76 ₸15.2K

18.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₸44.0K

$119 ₸60.9K

-27.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 ₸42.7K

$46.01 ₸23.5K

81.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 ₸172.5K

$301 ₸153.9K

12.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₸109.4K

$174 ₸88.8K

23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₸294.8K

$469 ₸239.6K

23.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₸199.6K

$360 ₸184.1K

8.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$937 ₸478.5K

$974 ₸497.5K

-3.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$619 ₸316.0K

$888 ₸453.7K

-30.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 ₸249.2K

$372 ₸190.1K

31.08%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: January 13, 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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