Cost of Living Comparison Between Oskemen and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Oskemen and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Oskemen vs $679 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Oskemen vs $1,091 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,639 per month in Oskemen vs $1,503 in Shymkent, rent included.

Oskemen costs about 8% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Oskemen and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Oskemen 45% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₸1,937

$9.57 ₸4,692

-58.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.49 ₸9,061

$19.66 ₸9,637

-5.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 ₸1,683

$6.77 ₸3,318

-49.34%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₸980

$1.87 ₸917

6.95%

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

$0.80 ₸390

$1.01 ₸493

-20.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸255

$0.44 ₸214

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₸659

$1.16 ₸566

15.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₸710

$1.91 ₸936

-24.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₸536

$1.10 ₸537

-0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸212

$0.30 ₸149

43.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ₸560

$1.57 ₸771

-27.39%

Eggs

$1.60 ₸782

$1.44 ₸706

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₸3,752

$7.95 ₸3,894

-3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 ₸2,142

$4.24 ₸2,079

3.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₸3,339

$6.50 ₸3,185

4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 ₸564

$1.00 ₸492

15.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₸889

$1.84 ₸899

-1.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ₸1,168

$1.89 ₸926

25.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₸1,258

$1.02 ₸502

151.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ₸297

$0.47 ₸232

29.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.38 ₸185

23.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ₸149

$0.78 ₸381

-61.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₸359

$0.64 ₸312

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸975

$1.91 ₸935

4.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.65 ₸2,278

$3.97 ₸1,946

17.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸653

$0.93 ₸457

43.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₸734

$1.38 ₸677

8.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸103

$0.16 ₸78.2

31.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 ₸497

$0.84 ₸411

20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ₸142

$0.63 ₸310

-53.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₸1,040

$5.91 ₸2,896

-64.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸225

$0.46 ₸224

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

$28.1K ₸13.8M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

41.95%

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

$27.0K ₸13.2M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

9.96%

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

$41.44 ₸20.3K

$51.1 ₸25.0K

-18.82%

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

$9.96 ₸4,881

$8.84 ₸4,332

12.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.59 ₸8,130

$12.49 ₸6,123

32.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.36 ₸11.4K

$32.82 ₸16.1K

-28.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.33 ₸8,494

$7.69 ₸3,771

125.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 ₸2,146

$4.75 ₸2,329

-7.79%

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

$58.3 ₸28.6K

$49.35 ₸24.2K

18.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,510 ₸1.2M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-49.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ₸58.3K

$32.43 ₸15.9K

266.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.8 ₸40.6K

$30.01 ₸14.7K

175.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ₸48.0K

$123 ₸60.1K

-20.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 ₸46.0K

$46.31 ₸22.7K

102.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₸162.3K

$306 ₸150.0K

8.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 ₸108.3K

$177 ₸86.9K

24.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₸263.3K

$470 ₸230.6K

14.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₸229.2K

$354 ₸173.5K

32.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,008 ₸494.2K

$1,040 ₸509.6K

-3.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 ₸381.1K

$911 ₸446.2K

-14.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 ₸368.2K

$401 ₸196.3K

87.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

-2.56%

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

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Oskemen 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 88% higher in Oskemen, 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 $18.00 in Oskemen versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $162 in Oskemen vs $148 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

Oskemen vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $736 in Oskemen, $679 in Shymkent – roughly 8% apart. Oskemen costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Oskemen 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $736 in Oskemen and $679 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $58.3 per month in Oskemen and $49.35 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $736 in Oskemen 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, Oskemen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.