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: $655 in Kyzylorda versus $807 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Kyzylorda versus $1,383 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,427 in Kyzylorda versus $1,959 in Shymkent.

Living in Kyzylorda costs roughly 19% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kyzylorda 52% lower, Shymkent 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.43 ₸4,212

$11.24 ₸5,020

-16.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.34 ₸14.9K

$34.42 ₸15.4K

-3.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 ₸3,048

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,071

$2.48 ₸1,107

-3.23%

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

$1.35 ₸605

$1.05 ₸470

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸195

$0.51 ₸229

-13.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ₸1,113

$1.13 ₸506

120.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 ₸1,525

$1.35 ₸605

152.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₸607

$1.43 ₸638

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.24 ₸107

$0.41 ₸184

-41.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₸445

$1.77 ₸793

-43.50%

Eggs

$1.36 ₸607

$1.74 ₸779

-21.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 ₸4,610

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 ₸911

$5.20 ₸2,325

-60.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.77 ₸2,133

$8.55 ₸3,821

-44.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 ₸626

$1.21 ₸539

15.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ₸954

$2.20 ₸984

-2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ₸909

$2.58 ₸1,152

-21.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₸1,148

$1.38 ₸615

86.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ₸589

$0.56 ₸250

135.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₸303

$0.40 ₸180

70.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸582

$0.90 ₸402

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₸427

$0.80 ₸359

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ₸1,080

$2.50 ₸1,117

-3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.44 ₸1,091

$4.34 ₸1,940

-43.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₸556

$1.08 ₸481

14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₸861

$1.60 ₸714

20.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸95.7

$0.16 ₸69.7

31.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₸405

$0.91 ₸409

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₸341

$0.34 ₸154

123.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,274

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸261

$0.61 ₸271

-4.92%

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

$28.6K ₸12.8M

$27.4K ₸12.2M

4.44%

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

$31.0K ₸13.9M

$29.8K ₸13.3M

4.21%

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

$75.2 ₸33.6K

$46.74 ₸20.9K

60.95%

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

$9.11 ₸4,069

$9.58 ₸4,282

-4.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.56 ₸6,952

$15.32 ₸6,844

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.01 ₸14.7K

$39.52 ₸17.7K

-16.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.82 ₸7,960

$9.16 ₸4,094

94.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 ₸2,734

$5.73 ₸2,562

6.81%

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

$57.4 ₸25.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ₸19.9K

$36.69 ₸16.4K

21.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₸24.9K

$33.90 ₸15.1K

64.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 ₸23.7K

$189 ₸84.4K

-71.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 ₸30.3K

$54.0 ₸24.1K

25.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$190 ₸84.7K

$347 ₸154.9K

-45.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₸70.1K

$205 ₸91.8K

-23.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 ₸132.4K

$704 ₸314.6K

-57.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 ₸99.3K

$553 ₸247.2K

-59.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 ₸500.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₸437.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$330 ₸147.3K

$452 ₸202.0K

-27.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

26.03%

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

Last update for Kyzylorda: September 14, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Kyzylorda and $347 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 37% 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: $33.00 in Kyzylorda vs $34.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $128 vs $185 per month, with Kyzylorda cheaper across the board.

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 23% 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, salaries run 37% lower in Shymkent. 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: $190 in Kyzylorda versus $347 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $655 per month in Kyzylorda versus $807 in Shymkent – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Shymkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 23% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.