Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Shah Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Shah Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Kostanay vs $857 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,401 per month in Kostanay vs $1,310 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,836 per month in Kostanay vs $1,763 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Kostanay costs about 13% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kostanay and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 28% lower, Shah Alam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 ₸3,780

$3.02 MYR 11.97

155.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.27 ₸12.4K

$18.93 MYR 75.1

33.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₸3,176

$4.13 MYR 16.37

56.90%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₸1,121

$2.73 MYR 10.81

-16.12%

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

$0.96 ₸469

$0.72 MYR 2.87

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸393

$0.37 MYR 1.46

116.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₸879

$3.44 MYR 13.63

-47.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₸1,638

$4.43 MYR 17.57

-24.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₸481

$1.88 MYR 7.45

-47.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸216

$0.94 MYR 3.74

-53.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₸568

$1.50 MYR 5.95

-22.67%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸873

$2.06 MYR 8.16

-13.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₸3,978

$14.26 MYR 56.6

-43.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₸2,575

$4.94 MYR 19.60

6.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.00 ₸3,922

$8.09 MYR 32.06

-1.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 ₸614

$2.83 MYR 11.20

-55.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₸979

$1.46 MYR 5.77

36.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₸636

$2.58 MYR 10.22

-49.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₸641

$1.21 MYR 4.82

8.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸265

$1.18 MYR 4.67

-54.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₸118

$1.40 MYR 5.55

-82.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸458

$0.89 MYR 3.53

5.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸450

$0.57 MYR 2.25

61.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₸1,079

$4.17 MYR 16.52

-47.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 ₸3,822

$19.18 MYR 76.1

-59.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸473

$2.65 MYR 10.51

-63.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₸1,316

$3.81 MYR 15.12

-29.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.69 MYR 2.75

-56.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 MYR 60.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸490

$0.96 MYR 3.79

4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ₸527

$0.54 MYR 2.16

98.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 ₸2,797

$7.13 MYR 28.27

-19.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸241

$0.46 MYR 1.83

6.52%

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

$28.9K ₸14.2M

$33.5K MYR 132.8K

-13.72%

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

$26.9K ₸13.2M

$27.7K MYR 109.9K

-2.97%

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

$72.4 ₸35.5K

$41.35 MYR 164

75.11%

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

$9.79 ₸4,797

$10.16 MYR 40.27

-3.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.18 ₸5,479

$30.62 MYR 121

-63.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 ₸19.4K

$38.96 MYR 154

1.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 ₸8,704

$5.98 MYR 23.72

196.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.79 ₸1,859

$6.36 MYR 25.23

-40.41%

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

$183 ₸89.7K

$213 MYR 844

-14.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,805 ₸2.8M

$6,253 MYR 24.8K

-7.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₸51.3K

$49.63 MYR 197

111.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₸27.6K

$34.84 MYR 138

61.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₸56.8K

$61.3 MYR 243

88.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₸49.3K

$48.83 MYR 194

106.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₸186.5K

$372 MYR 1,475

2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸160.9K

$266 MYR 1,054

23.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸259.3K

$576 MYR 2,285

-8.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₸209.4K

$481 MYR 1,907

-11.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,102 ₸540.3K

$1,553 MYR 6,156

-28.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$864 ₸423.6K

$1,223 MYR 4,850

-29.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₸296.4K

$1,263 MYR 5,008

-52.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

4.16

344.71%

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

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Kostanay versus $372 in Shah Alam. 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 109% higher in Shah Alam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kostanay versus $19.00 in Shah Alam. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Kostanay vs $249 in Shah Alam – so Kostanay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kostanay vs Shah Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostanay costs about 13% more than Shah Alam, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,451 per month in Kostanay and $1,286 in Shah Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shah Alam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kostanay and $19.00 in Shah Alam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 44% cheaper in Kostanay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $967 in Kostanay and $857 in Shah Alam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Shah Alam – 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 Shah Alam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostanay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.