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: $680 in Petropavl versus $683 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Petropavl versus $1,101 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,590 in Petropavl versus $1,519 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.56 ₸5,482

$9.67 ₸4,585

19.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 ₸11.1K

$19.73 ₸9,355

18.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ₸3,164

$6.67 ₸3,162

Cappuccino

$2.18 ₸1,033

$1.81 ₸857

20.44%

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

$0.97 ₸460

$1.01 ₸480

-3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸250

$0.40 ₸190

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸667

$1.20 ₸568

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₸1,124

$1.84 ₸871

28.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ₸368

$1.11 ₸526

-29.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸205

$0.28 ₸133

53.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 ₸828

$1.59 ₸752

10.06%

Eggs

$1.59 ₸756

$1.50 ₸711

6.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₸4,419

$8.23 ₸3,902

13.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 ₸2,613

$4.25 ₸2,014

29.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,863

$6.54 ₸3,100

24.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸617

$1.02 ₸486

27.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₸949

$1.84 ₸870

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ₸857

$1.84 ₸871

-1.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸896

$0.98 ₸466

92.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ₸231

$0.45 ₸212

8.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸242

$0.37 ₸177

37.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₸288

$0.85 ₸402

-28.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸386

$0.68 ₸323

19.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 ₸983

$1.97 ₸932

5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 ₸3,506

$4.24 ₸2,008

74.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸402

$0.99 ₸470

-14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸640

$1.40 ₸662

-3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸99.4

$0.14 ₸64.5

50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₸288

$0.90 ₸426

-32.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 ₸197

$0.67 ₸317

-37.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 ₸2,284

$6.02 ₸2,854

-19.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 ₸196

$0.46 ₸220

-10.87%

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

$19.4K ₸9.2M

$19.5K ₸9.2M

-0.62%

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

$23.8K ₸11.3M

$24.1K ₸11.4M

-0.96%

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

$50.5 ₸23.9K

$49.50 ₸23.5K

1.92%

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

$8.66 ₸4,105

$8.69 ₸4,118

-0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.69 ₸6,014

$12.73 ₸6,036

-0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.93 ₸9,447

$33.88 ₸16.1K

-41.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ₸3,684

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₸1,885

$4.84 ₸2,293

-17.77%

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

$215 ₸102.0K

$49.04 ₸23.2K

338.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,930 ₸2.3M

$4,801 ₸2.3M

2.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.67 ₸14.1K

$33.07 ₸15.7K

-10.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.76 ₸16.5K

$30.22 ₸14.3K

15.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.34 ₸18.7K

$122 ₸57.9K

-67.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 ₸36.6K

$45.77 ₸21.7K

68.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₸139.5K

$301 ₸142.9K

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ₸75.2K

$176 ₸83.4K

-9.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₸245.5K

$468 ₸221.7K

10.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₸186.7K

$358 ₸169.5K

10.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$827 ₸392.0K

$1,039 ₸492.5K

-20.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$932 ₸441.8K

$954 ₸452.2K

-2.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₸135.2K

$422 ₸200.1K

-32.41%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Petropavl and $301 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 48% 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: $23.00 in Petropavl vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $150 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, salaries run 48% 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: $294 in Petropavl versus $301 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Shymkent pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $680 per month in Petropavl versus $683 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.