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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $883 per month in Oskemen vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Oskemen vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Oskemen vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Oskemen costs about 14% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Oskemen and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Oskemen 36% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.12 ₸5,977

$10.77 ₸4,907

21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.18 ₸11.9K

$32.49 ₸14.8K

-19.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.96 ₸1,803

$6.63 ₸3,020

-40.27%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ₸1,547

$2.39 ₸1,091

42.26%

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

$1.01 ₸462

$1.02 ₸466

-0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸242

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₸703

$1.05 ₸480

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₸752

$1.33 ₸607

24.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ₸644

$1.46 ₸666

-3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 ₸242

$0.42 ₸193

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ₸607

$1.72 ₸783

-22.67%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸800

$1.63 ₸741

7.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 ₸4,423

$10.25 ₸4,670

-5.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 ₸2,679

$5.14 ₸2,343

14.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 ₸3,609

$8.80 ₸4,009

-10.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 ₸524

$1.18 ₸538

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸890

$2.09 ₸954

-6.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 ₸1,151

$2.50 ₸1,139

1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₸1,100

$1.35 ₸614

79.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₸392

$0.53 ₸244

62.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ₸221

$0.40 ₸181

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 ₸156

$0.86 ₸392

-60.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₸489

$0.83 ₸380

28.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₸995

$2.46 ₸1,121

-11.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.75 ₸2,165

$4.36 ₸1,987

8.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₸652

$1.04 ₸476

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₸756

$1.54 ₸703

7.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₸119

$0.13 ₸60.1

100.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₸498

$0.83 ₸377

31.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ₸142

$0.37 ₸166

-16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ₸1,100

$9.78 ₸4,457

-75.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 ₸289

$0.59 ₸267

6.78%

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

$31.5K ₸14.4M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

17.27%

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

$30.7K ₸14.0M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

5.83%

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

$44.52 ₸20.3K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

-4.32%

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

$11.31 ₸5,153

$9.10 ₸4,144

24.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.60 ₸10.3K

$14.64 ₸6,671

54.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 ₸11.8K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

-33.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.64 ₸8,949

$8.60 ₸3,920

128.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 ₸2,230

$5.40 ₸2,461

-9.26%

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

$65.9 ₸30.0K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

16.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 ₸1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$113 ₸51.5K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

216.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.8 ₸36.8K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

143.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 ₸44.4K

$182 ₸82.9K

-46.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸55.3K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

133.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₸152.9K

$333 ₸151.8K

0.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 ₸101.3K

$202 ₸91.9K

10.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₸292.1K

$693 ₸315.7K

-7.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ₸260.6K

$550 ₸250.6K

3.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,109 ₸505.2K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

3.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$805 ₸366.9K

$974 ₸443.6K

-17.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$784 ₸357.0K

$432 ₸196.9K

81.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

18.25

6.85%

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

Last update for Oskemen: August 30, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Oskemen 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 81% 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 $26.00 in Oskemen versus $32.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Oskemen 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

Oskemen vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $883 in Oskemen, $776 in Shymkent – roughly 14% apart. Oskemen costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,325 per month in Oskemen 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $883 in Oskemen and $776 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $65.9 per month in Oskemen and $56.5 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 $883 in Oskemen 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, Oskemen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.