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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Karaganda vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,187 per month in Karaganda vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Karaganda vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Karaganda costs about 11% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karaganda and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda 44% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 ₸4,180

$9.57 ₸4,692

-10.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 ₸14.5K

$19.66 ₸9,637

50.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₸2,437

$6.77 ₸3,318

-26.59%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸907

$1.87 ₸917

-1.07%

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

$0.70 ₸343

$1.01 ₸493

-30.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.44 ₸214

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ₸467

$1.16 ₸566

-18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,473

$1.91 ₸936

57.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₸463

$1.10 ₸537

-14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸215

$0.30 ₸149

46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 ₸638

$1.57 ₸771

-17.20%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸845

$1.44 ₸706

20.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₸4,644

$7.95 ₸3,894

19.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,079

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.25 ₸3,555

$6.50 ₸3,185

11.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 ₸646

$1.00 ₸492

32.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₸711

$1.84 ₸899

-21.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸929

$1.89 ₸926

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₸971

$1.02 ₸502

94.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸273

$0.47 ₸232

19.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸200

$0.38 ₸185

7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₸486

$0.78 ₸381

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸372

$0.64 ₸312

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₸878

$1.91 ₸935

-6.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 ₸3,857

$3.97 ₸1,946

98.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸487

$0.93 ₸457

6.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₸807

$1.38 ₸677

19.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸108

$0.16 ₸78.2

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 ₸5,666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₸872

$0.84 ₸411

111.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₸222

$0.63 ₸310

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 ₸2,148

$5.91 ₸2,896

-25.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 ₸219

$0.46 ₸224

-2.17%

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

$19.0K ₸9.3M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

-4.14%

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

$25.1K ₸12.3M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

2.23%

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

$53.9 ₸26.4K

$51.1 ₸25.0K

5.58%

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

$8.04 ₸3,941

$8.84 ₸4,332

-9.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.00 ₸6,372

$12.49 ₸6,123

4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.29 ₸15.8K

$32.82 ₸16.1K

-1.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 ₸5,764

$7.69 ₸3,771

52.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 ₸2,191

$4.75 ₸2,329

-5.89%

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

$240 ₸117.4K

$49.35 ₸24.2K

385.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,875 ₸2.4M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-1.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₸27.2K

$32.43 ₸15.9K

71.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.64 ₸17.5K

$30.01 ₸14.7K

18.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₸42.5K

$123 ₸60.1K

-29.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 ₸41.1K

$46.31 ₸22.7K

81.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸163.0K

$306 ₸150.0K

8.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₸102.9K

$177 ₸86.9K

18.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 ₸279.0K

$470 ₸230.6K

21.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₸195.8K

$354 ₸173.5K

12.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$977 ₸478.5K

$1,040 ₸509.6K

-6.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 ₸319.8K

$911 ₸446.2K

-28.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$523 ₸256.2K

$401 ₸196.3K

30.50%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Karaganda versus $306 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 30% 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 $30.00 in Karaganda versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $148 – 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: $752 in Karaganda, $679 in Shymkent – roughly 11% apart. Karaganda costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,127 per month in Karaganda and $1,018 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 $752 in Karaganda and $679 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $240 per month in Karaganda and $49.35 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 $752 in Karaganda and $679 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.