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: $1,049 in Qapshaghay versus $776 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Qapshaghay versus $1,352 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,097 in Qapshaghay versus $1,928 in Shymkent.

Living in Qapshaghay is roughly 35% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qapshaghay 24% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.05 ₸5,032

$10.77 ₸4,907

2.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.64 ₸9,858

$32.49 ₸14.8K

-33.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.49 ₸2,959

$6.63 ₸3,020

-2.11%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₸768

$2.39 ₸1,091

-29.29%

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

$1.01 ₸460

$1.02 ₸466

-0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₸305

$0.53 ₸242

26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₸612

$1.05 ₸480

27.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₸579

$1.33 ₸607

-4.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₸767

$1.46 ₸666

15.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₸198

$0.42 ₸193

2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ₸925

$1.72 ₸783

18.02%

Eggs

$2.33 ₸1,062

$1.63 ₸741

42.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.93 ₸5,434

$10.25 ₸4,670

16.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 ₸3,047

$5.14 ₸2,343

30.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.70 ₸4,873

$8.80 ₸4,009

21.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ₸871

$1.18 ₸538

61.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 ₸1,089

$2.09 ₸954

14.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,321

$2.50 ₸1,139

16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 ₸1,210

$1.35 ₸614

97.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸349

$0.53 ₸244

45.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₸238

$0.40 ₸181

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸764

$0.86 ₸392

95.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₸468

$0.83 ₸380

24.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.64 ₸746

$2.46 ₸1,121

-33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ₸4,844

$4.36 ₸1,987

143.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₸528

$1.04 ₸476

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₸1,050

$1.54 ₸703

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.4

$0.13 ₸60.1

15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.57 ₸8,003

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₸351

$0.83 ₸377

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸291

$0.37 ₸166

72.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 ₸1,807

$9.78 ₸4,457

-59.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₸248

$0.59 ₸267

-8.47%

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

$25.6K ₸11.7M

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-4.75%

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

$29.8K ₸13.6M

$29.0K ₸13.2M

2.62%

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

$87.6 ₸39.9K

$46.53 ₸21.2K

88.22%

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

$10.57 ₸4,816

$9.10 ₸4,144

16.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ₸7,928

$14.64 ₸6,671

18.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.84 ₸19.1K

$38.70 ₸17.6K

8.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,920

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 ₸3,035

$5.40 ₸2,461

23.33%

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

$142 ₸64.8K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

151.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,286 ₸2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.7 ₸40.9K

$35.70 ₸16.3K

151.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.64 ₸21.2K

$33.12 ₸15.1K

40.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.3K

$182 ₸82.9K

-23.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸60.2K

$52.1 ₸23.7K

153.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 ₸200.8K

$333 ₸151.8K

32.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₸137.8K

$202 ₸91.9K

49.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 ₸316.3K

$693 ₸315.7K

0.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₸222.8K

$550 ₸250.6K

-11.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 ₸443.8K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

-9.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$799 ₸363.8K

$974 ₸443.6K

-18.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 ₸196.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

18.25

12.93%

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

Last update for Qapshaghay: September 1, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Qapshaghay and $333 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Qapshaghay vs $32.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $183, 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

Qapshaghay vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 35% 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 $1,573 in Qapshaghay and $1,165 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: $441 in Qapshaghay versus $333 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $142 in Qapshaghay versus $56.5 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 $32.00 versus $22.00 in Qapshaghay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $776 in Shymkent versus $1,049 in Qapshaghay, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shymkent but tight or insufficient in Qapshaghay. The gap between the two cities makes Shymkent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 35% less than in Qapshaghay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.