Cost of Living Comparison Between Pavlodar and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Pavlodar and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Pavlodar versus $679 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Pavlodar versus $1,091 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,452 in Pavlodar versus $1,503 in Shymkent.

Living in Pavlodar costs roughly 1% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pavlodar 50% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.04 ₸2,958

$9.57 ₸4,692

-36.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.93 ₸9,766

$19.66 ₸9,637

1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 ₸3,703

$6.77 ₸3,318

11.67%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₸826

$1.87 ₸917

-9.63%

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

$1.05 ₸515

$1.01 ₸493

3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.44 ₸214

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ₸446

$1.16 ₸566

-21.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₸585

$1.91 ₸936

-37.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ₸381

$1.10 ₸537

-29.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ₸174

$0.30 ₸149

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₸462

$1.57 ₸771

-40.13%

Eggs

$1.55 ₸758

$1.44 ₸706

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,367

$7.95 ₸3,894

-39.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸2,047

$4.24 ₸2,079

-1.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.93 ₸2,907

$6.50 ₸3,185

-8.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸632

$1.00 ₸492

29.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₸796

$1.84 ₸899

-11.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ₸978

$1.89 ₸926

5.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₸753

$1.02 ₸502

50.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₸389

$0.47 ₸232

68.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₸330

$0.38 ₸185

76.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₸465

$0.78 ₸381

21.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸369

$0.64 ₸312

17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₸1,078

$1.91 ₸935

15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 ₸3,267

$3.97 ₸1,946

68.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸458

$0.93 ₸457

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₸770

$1.38 ₸677

13.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 ₸93.9

$0.16 ₸78.2

18.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₸732

$0.84 ₸411

77.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 ₸405

$0.63 ₸310

31.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 ₸2,342

$5.91 ₸2,896

-19.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸227

$0.46 ₸224

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

$19.9K ₸9.8M

$19.8K ₸9.7M

0.39%

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

$18.8K ₸9.2M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

-23.61%

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

$50.3 ₸24.7K

$51.1 ₸25.0K

-1.41%

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

$9.93 ₸4,865

$8.84 ₸4,332

12.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.75 ₸6,739

$12.49 ₸6,123

10.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.21 ₸18.2K

$32.82 ₸16.1K

13.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.71 ₸4,758

$7.69 ₸3,771

26.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.32 ₸2,606

$4.75 ₸2,329

12.00%

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

$115 ₸56.5K

$49.35 ₸24.2K

133.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,906 ₸2.4M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₸27.3K

$32.43 ₸15.9K

71.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.96 ₸14.2K

$30.01 ₸14.7K

-3.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 ₸42.7K

$123 ₸60.1K

-28.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 ₸38.3K

$46.31 ₸22.7K

68.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₸121.6K

$306 ₸150.0K

-18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 ₸94.5K

$177 ₸86.9K

8.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₸240.7K

$470 ₸230.6K

4.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸195.3K

$354 ₸173.5K

12.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,006 ₸493.1K

$1,040 ₸509.6K

-3.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$825 ₸404.4K

$911 ₸446.2K

-9.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 ₸319.9K

$401 ₸196.3K

62.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

19.5

-5.69%

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

Last update for Pavlodar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Pavlodar and $306 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pavlodar pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Pavlodar vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $144 vs $148 per month, with Pavlodar 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

Pavlodar vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pavlodar and Shymkent differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($670 vs $679 including rent). Pavlodar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Pavlodar pays 63% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $248 in Pavlodar versus $306 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Shymkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Pavlodar versus $679 in Shymkent – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pavlodar 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, Pavlodar 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 Pavlodar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.