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: $730 in Pavlodar versus $807 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,143 in Pavlodar versus $1,383 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,556 in Pavlodar versus $1,959 in Shymkent.

Living in Pavlodar costs roughly 10% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pavlodar 47% lower, Shymkent 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 ₸3,043

$11.24 ₸5,038

-39.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 ₸9,858

$34.42 ₸15.4K

-36.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 ₸3,959

$6.82 ₸3,059

29.47%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₸794

$2.48 ₸1,111

-28.63%

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

$1.19 ₸536

$1.05 ₸471

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸231

$0.51 ₸230

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 ₸495

$1.13 ₸508

-2.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₸644

$1.35 ₸607

6.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 ₸468

$1.43 ₸640

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ₸163

$0.41 ₸185

-12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 ₸594

$1.77 ₸796

-25.42%

Eggs

$1.60 ₸717

$1.74 ₸782

-8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 ₸2,428

$10.32 ₸4,626

-47.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₸2,103

$5.20 ₸2,333

-9.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.00 ₸3,138

$8.55 ₸3,835

-18.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 ₸643

$1.21 ₸541

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ₸777

$2.20 ₸987

-21.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 ₸793

$2.58 ₸1,156

-31.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ₸759

$1.38 ₸617

22.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 ₸407

$0.56 ₸251

62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 ₸343

$0.40 ₸180

92.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₸404

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸341

$0.80 ₸360

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₸1,123

$2.50 ₸1,121

Wine (Bottle)

$7.20 ₸3,227

$4.34 ₸1,947

65.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸586

$1.08 ₸483

21.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₸987

$1.60 ₸716

37.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₸150

$0.16 ₸69.9

106.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ₸642

$0.91 ₸410

57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 ₸512

$0.34 ₸154

235.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,289

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 ₸297

$0.61 ₸272

8.20%

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

$27.4K ₸12.3M

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

$25.9K ₸11.6M

$29.8K ₸13.4M

-13.07%

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

$65.9 ₸29.5K

$46.74 ₸21.0K

40.93%

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

$11.31 ₸5,072

$9.58 ₸4,297

18.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.32 ₸11.8K

$15.32 ₸6,868

71.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.07 ₸14.4K

$39.52 ₸17.7K

-18.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.12 ₸4,986

$9.16 ₸4,109

21.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 ₸2,048

$5.73 ₸2,571

-20.24%

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

$136 ₸61.0K

$57.4 ₸25.7K

137.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,446 ₸2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.69 ₸16.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.18 ₸11.7K

$33.90 ₸15.2K

-22.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ₸34.3K

$189 ₸84.7K

-59.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 ₸44.4K

$54.0 ₸24.2K

83.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 ₸123.5K

$347 ₸155.4K

-20.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₸101.1K

$205 ₸92.1K

9.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 ₸251.7K

$704 ₸315.7K

-20.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₸200.3K

$553 ₸248.0K

-19.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,112 ₸498.6K

$1,120 ₸502.0K

-0.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸408.5K

$978 ₸438.7K

-6.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$727 ₸326.1K

$452 ₸202.7K

60.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

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

Last update for Pavlodar: September 15, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Pavlodar and $347 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pavlodar pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Pavlodar vs $34.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $185 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 11% in total monthly costs ($730 vs $807 including rent). Pavlodar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Pavlodar, 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: $275 in Pavlodar versus $347 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Shymkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $730 per month in Pavlodar versus $807 in Shymkent – a 11% 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 11% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.