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: $836 in Petropavl versus $807 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Petropavl versus $1,383 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,146 in Petropavl versus $1,959 in Shymkent.

Living in Petropavl is roughly 4% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petropavl 39% lower, Shymkent 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.33 ₸6,401

$11.24 ₸5,020

27.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 ₸13.9K

$34.42 ₸15.4K

-9.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 ₸4,289

$6.82 ₸3,048

40.76%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₸1,213

$2.48 ₸1,107

9.27%

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

$1.45 ₸646

$1.05 ₸470

38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸332

$0.51 ₸229

45.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₸684

$1.13 ₸506

35.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₸1,219

$1.35 ₸605

102.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₸499

$1.43 ₸638

-21.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ₸333

$0.41 ₸184

82.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 ₸943

$1.77 ₸793

19.21%

Eggs

$2.13 ₸953

$1.74 ₸779

22.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 ₸4,704

$10.32 ₸4,610

2.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 ₸2,659

$5.20 ₸2,325

14.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 ₸4,550

$8.55 ₸3,821

19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 ₸707

$1.21 ₸539

30.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ₸977

$2.20 ₸984

-0.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 ₸818

$2.58 ₸1,152

-29.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₸584

$1.38 ₸615

-5.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₸311

$0.56 ₸250

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 ₸341

$0.40 ₸180

90.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 ₸1,215

$0.90 ₸402

202.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₸516

$0.80 ₸359

43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₸1,090

$2.50 ₸1,117

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.59 ₸3,390

$4.34 ₸1,940

74.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₸516

$1.08 ₸481

6.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₸940

$1.60 ₸714

31.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₸117

$0.16 ₸69.7

62.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.91 ₸409

-29.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₸464

$0.34 ₸154

205.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,274

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 ₸264

$0.61 ₸271

-3.28%

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

$22.1K ₸9.9M

$27.4K ₸12.2M

-19.38%

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

$27.1K ₸12.1M

$29.8K ₸13.3M

-8.98%

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

$57.8 ₸25.8K

$46.74 ₸20.9K

23.64%

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

$17.93 ₸8,009

$9.58 ₸4,282

87.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 ₸6,844

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.73 ₸12.8K

$39.52 ₸17.7K

-27.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,094

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₸2,309

$5.73 ₸2,562

-9.77%

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

$90.2 ₸40.3K

$57.4 ₸25.6K

57.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.42 ₸19.8K

$36.69 ₸16.4K

21.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.38 ₸14.9K

$33.90 ₸15.1K

-1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 ₸29.4K

$189 ₸84.4K

-65.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₸24.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ₸152.7K

$347 ₸154.9K

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₸100.9K

$205 ₸91.8K

9.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 ₸454.5K

$704 ₸314.6K

44.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₸346.3K

$553 ₸247.2K

40.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 ₸401.1K

$1,120 ₸500.3K

-19.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$994 ₸444.1K

$978 ₸437.1K

1.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$299 ₸133.6K

$452 ₸202.0K

-33.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

9.59%

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

Last update for Petropavl: September 14, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Petropavl and $347 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Petropavl vs $34.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $185, with Shymkent cheaper for home cooking.

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

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Petropavl. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Shymkent. 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: $342 in Petropavl 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 Petropavl. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Petropavl versus $807 in Shymkent – a 4% 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, 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 Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Petropavl. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.