Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyzylorda and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyzylorda and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $613 in Kyzylorda versus $675 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $954 in Kyzylorda versus $1,087 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,294 in Kyzylorda versus $1,499 in Shymkent.

Living in Kyzylorda costs roughly 9% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kyzylorda 54% lower, Shymkent 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.08 ₸3,737

$9.50 ₸4,392

-14.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.75 ₸13.8K

$19.72 ₸9,120

50.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 ₸3,142

$6.93 ₸3,206

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$2.10 ₸969

$1.80 ₸832

16.67%

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

$1.14 ₸526

$1.02 ₸471

11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₸174

$0.41 ₸189

-7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 ₸1,006

$1.19 ₸552

83.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,394

$1.81 ₸838

66.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₸512

$1.15 ₸530

-3.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ₸96.9

$0.28 ₸129

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 ₸403

$1.64 ₸759

-46.95%

Eggs

$1.17 ₸540

$1.44 ₸666

-18.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 ₸3,960

$8.24 ₸3,810

4.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.81 ₸838

$4.24 ₸1,962

-57.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.14 ₸1,916

$6.53 ₸3,020

-36.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 ₸553

$0.94 ₸435

26.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₸858

$1.79 ₸827

3.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 ₸819

$1.91 ₸883

-7.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,021

$1.01 ₸467

118.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ₸528

$0.47 ₸218

142.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₸272

$0.35 ₸162

68.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ₸554

$0.79 ₸364

51.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₸410

$0.64 ₸294

39.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 ₸999

$1.92 ₸889

12.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.45 ₸1,134

$4.38 ₸2,023

-44.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₸514

$1.01 ₸466

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₸745

$1.39 ₸644

15.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₸92.1

$0.15 ₸70.8

33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₸308

$0.84 ₸389

-20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₸307

$0.67 ₸312

-1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 ₸2,215

$5.83 ₸2,696

-17.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.43 ₸198

$0.49 ₸229

-12.24%

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

$25.7K ₸11.9M

$19.5K ₸9.0M

31.66%

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

$27.7K ₸12.8M

$24.4K ₸11.3M

13.67%

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

$66.5 ₸30.8K

$50.1 ₸23.2K

32.74%

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

$7.71 ₸3,565

$8.52 ₸3,938

-9.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.94 ₸6,446

$12.63 ₸5,838

10.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 ₸13.8K

$33.54 ₸15.5K

-11.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.59 ₸7,209

$7.74 ₸3,579

101.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.36 ₸2,476

$4.77 ₸2,205

12.37%

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

$209 ₸96.5K

$48.41 ₸22.4K

331.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,842 ₸2.2M

$4,897 ₸2.3M

-1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.49 ₸17.8K

$32.48 ₸15.0K

18.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.03 ₸22.7K

$30.48 ₸14.1K

60.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.40 ₸21.5K

$122 ₸56.5K

-62.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 ₸27.6K

$46.94 ₸21.7K

27.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 ₸76.9K

$303 ₸140.2K

-45.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 ₸63.1K

$176 ₸81.6K

-22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 ₸119.7K

$460 ₸212.6K

-43.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ₸88.6K

$354 ₸163.9K

-45.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸504.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸442.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 ₸150.4K

$437 ₸202.0K

-25.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

17.95%

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

Last update for Kyzylorda: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Kyzylorda and $303 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Kyzylorda vs $20.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $137 vs $150, with Kyzylorda cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kyzylorda vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kyzylorda wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Shymkent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kyzylorda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Shymkent earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $166 in Kyzylorda versus $303 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $209 in Kyzylorda versus $48.41 in Shymkent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kyzylorda – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $20.00 in Shymkent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kyzylorda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kyzylorda and Shymkent are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kyzylorda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.