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

😐 Solo nomad: Karaganda is 6% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Karaganda is 10% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.56 ₸4,022
$9.81 ₸4,608
-12.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.92 ₸13.6K
$19.23 ₸9,036
50.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.91 ₸2,306
$6.88 ₸3,233
-28.63%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₸870
$1.80 ₸846
2.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸323
$1.03 ₸482
-33.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₸235
$0.41 ₸191
21.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ₸466
$1.18 ₸556
-16.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₸1,344
$1.88 ₸882
52.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 ₸454
$1.15 ₸540
-15.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸206
$0.30 ₸142
46.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ₸615
$1.57 ₸738
-16.56%
Eggs
$1.75 ₸823
$1.50 ₸707
16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 ₸4,296
$7.89 ₸3,707
15.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.09 ₸1,920
$4.40 ₸2,069
-7.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.23 ₸3,398
$6.44 ₸3,029
12.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ₸641
$1.03 ₸483
32.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 ₸696
$1.87 ₸880
-20.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₸922
$1.89 ₸890
3.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₸932
$1.03 ₸482
92.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 ₸262
$0.44 ₸209
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₸191
$0.35 ₸163
17.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₸468
$0.77 ₸363
29.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₸336
$0.67 ₸315
7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72 ₸807
$1.90 ₸893
-9.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 ₸3,701
$4.31 ₸2,026
82.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₸440
$1.02 ₸480
-7.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₸785
$1.35 ₸637
23.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 ₸88.6
$0.14 ₸64.9
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.78 ₸5,535
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 ₸817
$0.90 ₸421
93.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ₸198
$0.68 ₸319
-38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 ₸2,118
$5.89 ₸2,767
-23.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.44 ₸208
$0.50 ₸237
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ₸9.0M
$19.7K ₸9.2M
-2.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₸11.6M
$24.4K ₸11.5M
1.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.6 ₸25.7K
$49.67 ₸23.3K
9.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32 ₸3,912
$8.62 ₸4,051
-3.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11 ₸6,163
$12.89 ₸6,058
1.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.78 ₸15.4K
$33.59 ₸15.8K
-2.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.64 ₸5,472
$7.91 ₸3,716
47.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 ₸2,176
$4.95 ₸2,324
-6.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 ₸111.0K
$48.85 ₸23.0K
383.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,834 ₸2.3M
$4,896 ₸2.3M
-1.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 ₸26.1K
$33.15 ₸15.6K
67.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.84 ₸16.8K
$30.12 ₸14.2K
18.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 ₸41.6K
$118 ₸55.6K
-25.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 ₸40.5K
$47.02 ₸22.1K
83.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 ₸156.8K
$303 ₸142.2K
10.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 ₸100.1K
$179 ₸84.3K
18.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 ₸269.9K
$466 ₸219.2K
23.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₸189.0K
$362 ₸170.1K
11.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$975 ₸458.4K
$1,035 ₸486.4K
-5.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$673 ₸316.5K
$944 ₸443.7K
-28.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$533 ₸250.3K
$413 ₸194.0K
29.02%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 13, 2026

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

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