Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostanay and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Kostanay vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,401 per month in Kostanay vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,836 per month in Kostanay vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Kostanay costs about 42% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kostanay and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 28% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 ₸3,780

$9.57 ₸4,692

-19.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.27 ₸12.4K

$19.66 ₸9,637

28.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₸3,176

$6.77 ₸3,318

-4.28%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₸1,121

$1.87 ₸917

22.46%

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

$0.96 ₸469

$1.01 ₸493

-4.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸393

$0.44 ₸214

81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₸879

$1.16 ₸566

54.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₸1,638

$1.91 ₸936

74.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₸481

$1.10 ₸537

-10.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸216

$0.30 ₸149

46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₸568

$1.57 ₸771

-26.11%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸873

$1.44 ₸706

23.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₸3,978

$7.95 ₸3,894

2.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₸2,575

$4.24 ₸2,079

24.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.00 ₸3,922

$6.50 ₸3,185

23.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 ₸614

$1.00 ₸492

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₸979

$1.84 ₸899

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₸636

$1.89 ₸926

-31.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₸641

$1.02 ₸502

28.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸265

$0.47 ₸232

14.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.38 ₸185

-36.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸458

$0.78 ₸381

20.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸450

$0.64 ₸312

43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₸1,079

$1.91 ₸935

15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 ₸3,822

$3.97 ₸1,946

96.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸473

$0.93 ₸457

4.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₸1,316

$1.38 ₸677

94.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.16 ₸78.2

87.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸490

$0.84 ₸411

19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ₸527

$0.63 ₸310

69.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 ₸2,797

$5.91 ₸2,896

-3.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸241

$0.46 ₸224

6.52%

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

$28.9K ₸14.2M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

45.77%

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

$26.9K ₸13.2M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

9.47%

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

$72.4 ₸35.5K

$51.1 ₸25.0K

41.84%

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

$9.79 ₸4,797

$8.84 ₸4,332

10.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.18 ₸5,479

$12.49 ₸6,123

-10.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 ₸19.4K

$32.82 ₸16.1K

20.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 ₸8,704

$7.69 ₸3,771

130.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.79 ₸1,859

$4.75 ₸2,329

-20.21%

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

$183 ₸89.7K

$49.35 ₸24.2K

270.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,805 ₸2.8M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

17.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₸51.3K

$32.43 ₸15.9K

223.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₸27.6K

$30.01 ₸14.7K

87.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₸56.8K

$123 ₸60.1K

-5.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₸49.3K

$46.31 ₸22.7K

117.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₸186.5K

$306 ₸150.0K

24.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸160.9K

$177 ₸86.9K

85.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸259.3K

$470 ₸230.6K

12.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₸209.4K

$354 ₸173.5K

20.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,102 ₸540.3K

$1,040 ₸509.6K

6.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$864 ₸423.6K

$911 ₸446.2K

-5.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₸296.4K

$401 ₸196.3K

51.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

19.5

-5.13%

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

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Kostanay 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 51% higher in Kostanay, 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 $25.00 in Kostanay versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 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

Kostanay vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostanay costs about 42% more than Shymkent, 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 $1,018 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kostanay and $20.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Kostanay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $967 in Kostanay 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, Kostanay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.