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: $688 in Pavlodar versus $678 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Pavlodar versus $1,076 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,481 in Pavlodar versus $1,473 in Shymkent.

Living in Pavlodar is roughly 1% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 ₸2,736

$9.93 ₸4,669

-41.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 ₸9,023

$19.90 ₸9,353

-3.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 ₸3,511

$6.99 ₸3,287

6.87%

Cappuccino

$1.62 ₸760

$1.85 ₸868

-12.43%

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

$1.09 ₸513

$0.99 ₸467

10.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₸211

$0.41 ₸192

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ₸402

$1.15 ₸542

-25.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸578

$1.91 ₸898

-35.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 ₸390

$1.15 ₸541

-27.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 ₸166

$0.30 ₸142

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₸476

$1.63 ₸767

-38.04%

Eggs

$1.58 ₸741

$1.44 ₸676

9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,268

$7.92 ₸3,724

-39.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.34 ₸2,038

$4.18 ₸1,967

3.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 ₸2,860

$6.47 ₸3,042

-6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸608

$0.96 ₸450

34.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₸744

$1.78 ₸837

-11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸902

$1.91 ₸896

0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₸718

$1.02 ₸480

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 ₸377

$0.48 ₸224

66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₸325

$0.38 ₸178

81.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸449

$0.79 ₸373

21.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸359

$0.69 ₸322

10.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₸989

$1.99 ₸937

6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 ₸3,250

$4.33 ₸2,034

59.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₸446

$0.94 ₸443

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₸729

$1.33 ₸627

16.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸97.9

$0.14 ₸64.0

50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ₸707

$0.89 ₸418

69.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₸359

$0.62 ₸294

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 ₸2,267

$5.80 ₸2,724

-16.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸215

$0.50 ₸234

-8.00%

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

$19.8K ₸9.3M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

2.36%

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

$18.7K ₸8.8M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

-21.65%

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

$50.9 ₸23.9K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

0.99%

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

$10.01 ₸4,704

$8.64 ₸4,060

15.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.64 ₸6,412

$12.73 ₸5,981

7.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.89 ₸17.3K

$33.03 ₸15.5K

11.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.73 ₸4,573

$7.81 ₸3,670

24.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 ₸2,579

$5.04 ₸2,367

8.93%

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

$120 ₸56.2K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

147.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,820 ₸2.3M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

-0.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 ₸26.6K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

71.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.42 ₸13.8K

$29.87 ₸14.0K

-1.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 ₸42.1K

$120 ₸56.4K

-25.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.2 ₸37.2K

$46.86 ₸22.0K

68.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 ₸115.5K

$297 ₸139.7K

-17.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 ₸90.9K

$174 ₸81.7K

11.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ₸230.5K

$475 ₸223.2K

3.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₸180.2K

$365 ₸171.5K

5.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,064 ₸500.0K

$1,039 ₸488.5K

2.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$850 ₸399.6K

$935 ₸439.7K

-9.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$671 ₸315.3K

$415 ₸195.2K

61.52%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Pavlodar and $297 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pavlodar pays 62% 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: $19.00 in Pavlodar vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $149 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 ($688 vs $678 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 62% 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: $246 in Pavlodar versus $297 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pavlodar pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $688 per month in Pavlodar versus $678 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 Shymkent 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 Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Pavlodar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.