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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $921 per month in Karaganda vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Karaganda vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,000 per month in Karaganda vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Karaganda costs about 19% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karaganda and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda 33% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.55 ₸4,352

$10.77 ₸4,907

-11.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.35 ₸15.6K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

5.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₸2,406

$6.63 ₸3,020

-20.36%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ₸881

$2.39 ₸1,091

-19.25%

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

$0.90 ₸410

$1.02 ₸466

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₸269

$0.53 ₸242

11.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 ₸607

$1.05 ₸480

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₸1,321

$1.33 ₸607

118.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ₸566

$1.46 ₸666

-15.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸200

$0.42 ₸193

4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 ₸565

$1.72 ₸783

-27.91%

Eggs

$1.75 ₸799

$1.63 ₸741

7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₸5,876

$10.25 ₸4,670

25.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 ₸2,477

$5.14 ₸2,343

5.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ₸4,922

$8.80 ₸4,009

22.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₸682

$1.18 ₸538

27.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₸880

$2.09 ₸954

-7.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 ₸1,257

$2.50 ₸1,139

10.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸938

$1.35 ₸614

52.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₸296

$0.53 ₸244

22.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 ₸242

$0.40 ₸181

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₸458

$0.86 ₸392

16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸325

$0.83 ₸380

-14.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.19 ₸998

$2.46 ₸1,121

-10.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 ₸3,613

$4.36 ₸1,987

81.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₸600

$1.04 ₸476

26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₸938

$1.54 ₸703

33.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸95.4

$0.13 ₸60.1

61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.94 ₸6,805

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ₸554

$0.83 ₸377

46.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 ₸553

$0.37 ₸166

227.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 ₸1,488

$9.78 ₸4,457

-66.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₸247

$0.59 ₸267

-8.47%

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

$21.5K ₸9.8M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-20.09%

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

$31.0K ₸14.1M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

6.67%

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

$71.2 ₸32.4K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

53.00%

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

$9.80 ₸4,464

$9.10 ₸4,144

7.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.80 ₸5,374

$14.64 ₸6,671

-19.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.26 ₸20.2K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

14.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.14 ₸8,265

$8.60 ₸3,920

110.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.18 ₸2,361

$5.40 ₸2,461

-4.07%

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

$129 ₸58.6K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

128.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₸26.8K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

64.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.0 ₸26.4K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

75.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 ₸34.2K

$182 ₸82.9K

-58.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 ₸39.1K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

64.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 ₸178.3K

$333 ₸151.8K

17.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₸122.6K

$202 ₸91.9K

33.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₸323.1K

$693 ₸315.7K

2.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 ₸242.7K

$550 ₸250.6K

-3.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,027 ₸467.7K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

-4.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$706 ₸321.7K

$974 ₸443.6K

-27.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 ₸257.4K

$432 ₸196.9K

30.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.25

18.25

5.48%

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

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Karaganda 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 31% higher in Karaganda, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Karaganda versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 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

Karaganda vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $921 in Karaganda, $776 in Shymkent – roughly 19% apart. Karaganda costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Karaganda 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 $921 in Karaganda and $776 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Karaganda 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 $921 in Karaganda 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, Karaganda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.