Cost of Living Comparison Between Petropavl and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Petropavl and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $686 in Petropavl versus $695 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Petropavl versus $1,083 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,548 in Petropavl versus $1,472 in Shymkent.

Living in Petropavl costs roughly 1% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petropavl 49% lower, Shymkent 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.66 ₸5,695

$9.50 ₸4,638

22.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.57 ₸11.5K

$19.80 ₸9,670

19.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 ₸3,295

$6.97 ₸3,407

-3.16%

Cappuccino

$2.11 ₸1,031

$1.85 ₸903

14.05%

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

$0.95 ₸466

$1.02 ₸498

-6.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸272

$0.43 ₸211

30.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₸654

$1.20 ₸585

11.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₸1,186

$1.90 ₸929

27.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₸360

$1.12 ₸546

-33.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸210

$0.28 ₸135

53.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₸899

$1.59 ₸776

15.72%

Eggs

$1.67 ₸817

$1.46 ₸711

14.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₸4,551

$8.15 ₸3,982

14.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 ₸2,595

$4.30 ₸2,099

23.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₸3,953

$6.50 ₸3,173

24.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 ₸638

$1.03 ₸501

27.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₸974

$1.81 ₸883

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ₸891

$1.87 ₸914

-2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 ₸948

$0.99 ₸482

95.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸233

$0.45 ₸219

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 ₸246

$0.35 ₸169

42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₸297

$0.82 ₸403

-25.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸394

$0.63 ₸309

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 ₸1,037

$1.99 ₸971

6.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.99 ₸4,881

$4.15 ₸2,028

140.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸409

$0.95 ₸466

-11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸680

$1.34 ₸655

3.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸112

$0.13 ₸61.9

76.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₸296

$0.92 ₸451

-33.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ₸189

$0.67 ₸326

-41.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 ₸2,239

$6.01 ₸2,937

-23.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 ₸201

$0.50 ₸246

-18.00%

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

$19.3K ₸9.4M

$19.2K ₸9.4M

0.07%

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

$23.7K ₸11.6M

$23.9K ₸11.7M

-0.71%

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

$50.7 ₸24.8K

$50.3 ₸24.5K

0.98%

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

$8.68 ₸4,240

$8.79 ₸4,295

-1.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.89 ₸6,296

$12.41 ₸6,063

3.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.20 ₸9,380

$33.03 ₸16.1K

-41.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₸3,751

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₸1,941

$4.91 ₸2,398

-18.94%

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

$208 ₸101.8K

$49.20 ₸24.0K

323.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,802 ₸2.3M

$4,815 ₸2.4M

-0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 ₸14.6K

$32.19 ₸15.7K

-7.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 ₸17.4K

$30.03 ₸14.7K

18.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.68 ₸19.4K

$120 ₸58.5K

-66.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 ₸37.5K

$46.08 ₸22.5K

66.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₸141.7K

$308 ₸150.4K

-5.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₸76.4K

$174 ₸85.1K

-10.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₸252.1K

$474 ₸231.3K

9.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₸194.0K

$363 ₸177.4K

9.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,032 ₸503.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 ₸152.1K

$412 ₸201.0K

-24.32%

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 Petropavl: June 9, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Petropavl and $308 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 32% 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: $24.00 in Petropavl vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $149 per month, with Shymkent 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

Petropavl vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petropavl wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Shymkent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Petropavl the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Shymkent earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $290 in Petropavl versus $308 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Shymkent pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $686 per month in Petropavl versus $695 in Shymkent – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Petropavl 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, Petropavl 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 Petropavl 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.