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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in Karaganda vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Karaganda vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,617 per month in Karaganda vs $1,473 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

$8.45 ₸3,976

$9.93 ₸4,676

-14.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.19 ₸13.7K

$19.90 ₸9,368

46.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₸2,337

$6.99 ₸3,292

-28.90%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸872

$1.85 ₸869

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

$0.65 ₸305

$0.99 ₸467

-34.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₸217

$0.41 ₸192

12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₸475

$1.15 ₸543

-12.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₸1,393

$1.91 ₸900

54.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ₸478

$1.15 ₸542

-11.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸217

$0.30 ₸142

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 ₸582

$1.63 ₸768

-23.93%

Eggs

$1.72 ₸810

$1.44 ₸677

19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 ₸4,533

$7.92 ₸3,730

21.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 ₸2,007

$4.18 ₸1,970

1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.18 ₸3,381

$6.47 ₸3,047

10.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸614

$0.96 ₸451

35.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₸673

$1.78 ₸838

-19.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₸929

$1.91 ₸898

3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 ₸907

$1.02 ₸481

89.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸279

$0.48 ₸224

22.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸177

$0.38 ₸178

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₸476

$0.79 ₸373

27.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸352

$0.69 ₸323

8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 ₸818

$1.99 ₸939

-12.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.02 ₸3,774

$4.33 ₸2,037

85.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₸470

$0.94 ₸444

6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₸796

$1.33 ₸628

27.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 ₸88.8

$0.14 ₸64.1

35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.90 ₸5,601

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ₸810

$0.89 ₸419

93.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ₸201

$0.62 ₸294

-30.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 ₸2,082

$5.80 ₸2,729

-23.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸227

$0.50 ₸234

-4.00%

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

$19.2K ₸9.1M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

-0.40%

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

$25.4K ₸11.9M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

6.25%

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

$54.0 ₸25.4K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

7.00%

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

$8.42 ₸3,963

$8.64 ₸4,066

-2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.22 ₸6,221

$12.73 ₸5,991

3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.87 ₸15.0K

$33.03 ₸15.6K

-3.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₸5,586

$7.81 ₸3,676

51.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.56 ₸2,146

$5.04 ₸2,371

-9.52%

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

$242 ₸114.0K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

401.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,868 ₸2.3M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ₸26.1K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

68.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ₸16.5K

$29.87 ₸14.1K

17.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 ₸41.9K

$120 ₸56.5K

-25.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.0 ₸40.5K

$46.86 ₸22.1K

83.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₸155.9K

$297 ₸139.9K

11.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₸98.7K

$174 ₸81.8K

20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 ₸269.6K

$475 ₸223.6K

20.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸187.5K

$365 ₸171.8K

9.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$996 ₸469.0K

$1,039 ₸489.3K

-4.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$684 ₸321.9K

$935 ₸440.4K

-26.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$533 ₸251.0K

$415 ₸195.5K

28.39%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Karaganda versus $297 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 28% 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 $29.00 in Karaganda versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $149 – 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: $750 in Karaganda, $678 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 $1,125 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 $750 in Karaganda and $678 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Karaganda and $48.24 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 $750 in Karaganda and $678 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.