Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Qapshaghay versus $671 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in Qapshaghay versus $1,091 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,671 in Qapshaghay versus $1,512 in Shymkent.

Living in Qapshaghay is roughly 28% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qapshaghay 36% lower, Shymkent 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 ₸3,749

$9.81 ₸4,589

-18.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 ₸9,217

$19.23 ₸8,999

2.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ₸2,803

$6.88 ₸3,219

-12.94%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ₸710

$1.80 ₸843

-15.56%

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

$0.91 ₸428

$1.03 ₸480

-11.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₸252

$0.41 ₸190

31.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₸464

$1.18 ₸554

-16.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₸538

$1.88 ₸878

-38.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸619

$1.15 ₸537

14.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸260

$0.30 ₸141

83.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸691

$1.57 ₸735

-5.73%

Eggs

$1.72 ₸803

$1.50 ₸704

14.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₸4,406

$7.89 ₸3,692

19.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,186

$4.40 ₸2,060

6.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 ₸3,644

$6.44 ₸3,016

20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸630

$1.03 ₸481

31.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸925

$1.87 ₸876

5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸888

$1.89 ₸886

0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸969

$1.03 ₸480

100.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ₸288

$0.44 ₸208

40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸197

$0.35 ₸163

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸610

$0.77 ₸362

68.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸352

$0.67 ₸314

11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 ₸661

$1.90 ₸889

-25.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 ₸3,842

$4.31 ₸2,017

90.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸388

$1.02 ₸478

-18.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₸1,006

$1.35 ₸634

59.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸65.1

$0.14 ₸64.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₸348

$0.90 ₸420

-17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸298

$0.68 ₸317

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 ₸2,211

$5.89 ₸2,755

-19.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.50 ₸236

-4.00%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$19.7K ₸9.2M

21.50%

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

$26.8K ₸12.6M

$24.4K ₸11.4M

9.70%

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

$63.6 ₸29.8K

$49.67 ₸23.2K

28.09%

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

$8.98 ₸4,204

$8.62 ₸4,035

4.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,411

$12.89 ₸6,033

6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.69 ₸15.3K

$33.59 ₸15.7K

-2.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.91 ₸3,701

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ₸2,410

$4.95 ₸2,315

4.04%

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

$260 ₸121.8K

$48.85 ₸22.9K

432.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,792 ₸2.2M

$4,896 ₸2.3M

-2.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 ₸26.2K

$33.15 ₸15.5K

69.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.06 ₸20.6K

$30.12 ₸14.1K

46.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 ₸46.2K

$118 ₸55.4K

-16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.2K

$47.02 ₸22.0K

155.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₸186.4K

$303 ₸141.6K

31.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₸125.9K

$179 ₸83.9K

50.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 ₸299.2K

$466 ₸218.3K

37.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ₸205.8K

$362 ₸169.4K

21.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,191 ₸557.4K

$1,035 ₸484.5K

15.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$835 ₸390.8K

$944 ₸441.9K

-11.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$413 ₸193.2K

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 Qapshaghay: April 14, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $398 in Qapshaghay and $303 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Qapshaghay vs $19 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 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

Qapshaghay vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Qapshaghay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,291 in Qapshaghay and $1,006 in Shymkent to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $398 in Qapshaghay versus $303 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $260 in Qapshaghay versus $48.85 in Shymkent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $20.00 in Qapshaghay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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, Qapshaghay 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 28% less than in Qapshaghay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.