Cost of Living Comparison Between Saryagash and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Saryagash and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $878 in Saryagash versus $807 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,423 in Saryagash versus $1,383 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,968 in Saryagash versus $1,959 in Shymkent.

Living in Saryagash is roughly 9% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saryagash 36% lower, Shymkent 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.25 ₸4,580

$11.24 ₸5,020

-8.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.42 ₸14.0K

$34.42 ₸15.4K

-8.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 ₸3,678

$6.82 ₸3,048

20.67%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ₸1,064

$2.48 ₸1,107

-4.03%

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

$1.07 ₸478

$1.05 ₸470

1.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₸225

$0.51 ₸229

-1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸535

$1.13 ₸506

6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₸1,040

$1.35 ₸605

72.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₸618

$1.43 ₸638

-3.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸197

$0.41 ₸184

7.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₸788

$1.77 ₸793

-0.56%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸762

$1.74 ₸779

-1.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 ₸3,967

$10.32 ₸4,610

-13.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 ₸2,605

$5.20 ₸2,325

12.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.46 ₸4,226

$8.55 ₸3,821

10.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 ₸708

$1.21 ₸539

30.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 ₸1,048

$2.20 ₸984

6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₸1,093

$2.58 ₸1,152

-5.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 ₸825

$1.38 ₸615

34.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ₸309

$0.56 ₸250

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 ₸236

$0.40 ₸180

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ₸518

$0.90 ₸402

28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸414

$0.80 ₸359

16.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₸1,086

$2.50 ₸1,117

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 ₸3,922

$4.34 ₸1,940

102.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₸566

$1.08 ₸481

17.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₸973

$1.60 ₸714

36.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸102

$0.16 ₸69.7

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.86 ₸7,981

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸519

$0.91 ₸409

27.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₸321

$0.34 ₸154

111.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 ₸2,663

$9.57 ₸4,274

-37.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₸251

$0.61 ₸271

-8.20%

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

$26.8K ₸12.0M

$27.4K ₸12.2M

-2.36%

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

$30.9K ₸13.8M

$29.8K ₸13.3M

3.71%

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

$65.9 ₸29.4K

$46.74 ₸20.9K

41.04%

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

$9.53 ₸4,257

$9.58 ₸4,282

-0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.67 ₸7,000

$15.32 ₸6,844

2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.36 ₸18.9K

$39.52 ₸17.7K

7.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,094

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 ₸2,510

$5.73 ₸2,562

-1.92%

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

$156 ₸69.7K

$57.4 ₸25.6K

171.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,065 ₸2.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₸27.5K

$36.69 ₸16.4K

68.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.06 ₸19.2K

$33.90 ₸15.1K

27.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 ₸41.0K

$189 ₸84.4K

-51.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₸34.8K

$54.0 ₸24.1K

44.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 ₸166.2K

$347 ₸154.9K

7.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 ₸103.4K

$205 ₸91.8K

12.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 ₸274.5K

$704 ₸314.6K

-12.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸222.3K

$553 ₸247.2K

-10.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$946 ₸422.5K

$1,120 ₸500.3K

-15.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$804 ₸359.3K

$978 ₸437.1K

-17.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₸202.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.25

18.25

5.48%

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

Last update for Saryagash: September 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $372 in Saryagash and $347 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $31.00 in Saryagash vs $34.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 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

Saryagash vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saryagash and Shymkent differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($878 vs $807 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,318 in Saryagash and $1,211 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: $372 in Saryagash versus $347 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $156 in Saryagash versus $57.4 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 $34.00 versus $31.00 in Saryagash. 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, Saryagash 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 9% less than in Saryagash. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.