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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $936 per month in Kostanay vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Kostanay vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Kostanay vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Kostanay costs about 21% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kostanay and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay 32% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₸2,484

$10.77 ₸4,907

-49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.71 ₸13.1K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

-11.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 ₸3,276

$6.63 ₸3,021

8.45%

Cappuccino

$2.13 ₸972

$2.39 ₸1,091

-10.88%

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

$1.15 ₸522

$1.02 ₸467

12.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸378

$0.53 ₸242

56.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₸634

$1.05 ₸480

32.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₸1,151

$1.33 ₸607

90.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ₸565

$1.46 ₸666

-15.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₸219

$0.42 ₸193

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₸469

$1.72 ₸783

-40.12%

Eggs

$2.20 ₸1,002

$1.63 ₸741

34.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 ₸4,568

$10.25 ₸4,670

-2.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.70 ₸2,599

$5.14 ₸2,343

10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 ₸3,913

$8.80 ₸4,009

-2.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 ₸722

$1.18 ₸538

33.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 ₸1,032

$2.09 ₸954

8.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₸854

$2.50 ₸1,139

-24.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₸1,034

$1.35 ₸614

68.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸246

$0.53 ₸244

1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₸281

$0.40 ₸181

55.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₸541

$0.86 ₸392

38.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸417

$0.83 ₸380

10.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.41 ₸1,097

$2.46 ₸1,121

-2.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 ₸3,669

$4.36 ₸1,987

84.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₸500

$1.04 ₸476

5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₸1,047

$1.54 ₸703

49.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₸144

$0.13 ₸60.1

146.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 ₸427

$0.83 ₸377

13.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₸484

$0.37 ₸166

186.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 ₸2,664

$9.78 ₸4,457

-40.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₸246

$0.59 ₸267

-8.47%

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

$30.6K ₸14.0M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

13.93%

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

$29.1K ₸13.3M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

0.38%

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

$75.3 ₸34.3K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

61.90%

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

$10.72 ₸4,883

$9.10 ₸4,145

17.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.65 ₸7,128

$14.64 ₸6,671

6.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.28 ₸21.1K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

19.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.86 ₸9,048

$8.60 ₸3,920

130.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 ₸1,913

$5.40 ₸2,462

-22.22%

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

$207 ₸94.3K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

266.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,436 ₸2.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.3 ₸42.0K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

158.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.7 ₸24.0K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

59.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 ₸48.5K

$182 ₸82.9K

-41.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 ₸40.7K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

71.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₸176.9K

$333 ₸151.8K

16.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₸138.4K

$202 ₸91.9K

50.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₸264.4K

$693 ₸315.7K

-16.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 ₸214.8K

$550 ₸250.7K

-14.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,190 ₸541.9K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

10.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$910 ₸414.6K

$974 ₸443.6K

-6.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₸294.5K

$432 ₸196.9K

49.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

18.25

1.37%

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

Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Kostanay versus $333 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 50% 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 $29.00 in Kostanay versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Kostanay vs $183 in Shymkent – so Shymkent 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 Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostanay costs about 21% more than Shymkent, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,404 per month in Kostanay and $1,165 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 $29.00 in Kostanay and $32.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $936 in Kostanay and $776 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.