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: $734 in Saryagash versus $679 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Saryagash versus $1,091 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,629 in Saryagash versus $1,503 in Shymkent.

Living in Saryagash is roughly 8% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saryagash 45% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.63 ₸3,707

$9.57 ₸4,651

-20.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.22 ₸13.2K

$19.66 ₸9,553

38.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 ₸3,243

$6.77 ₸3,289

-1.33%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ₸925

$1.87 ₸909

2.14%

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

$0.92 ₸449

$1.01 ₸489

-8.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸250

$0.44 ₸212

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸583

$1.16 ₸562

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₸920

$1.91 ₸928

-1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ₸526

$1.10 ₸533

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₸204

$0.30 ₸148

40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₸692

$1.57 ₸764

-8.92%

Eggs

$1.60 ₸776

$1.44 ₸700

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 ₸4,334

$7.95 ₸3,860

12.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₸2,278

$4.24 ₸2,061

10.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.30 ₸3,545

$6.50 ₸3,158

12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸654

$1.00 ₸488

35.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 ₸913

$1.84 ₸892

2.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸953

$1.89 ₸918

3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 ₸946

$1.02 ₸497

91.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸266

$0.47 ₸230

17.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.38 ₸183

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸494

$0.78 ₸377

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸345

$0.64 ₸310

10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 ₸973

$1.91 ₸927

4.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 ₸3,845

$3.97 ₸1,929

99.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$0.93 ₸453

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ₸741

$1.38 ₸671

10.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸105

$0.16 ₸77.5

37.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 ₸466

$0.84 ₸408

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸307

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 ₸2,341

$5.91 ₸2,871

-18.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸241

$0.46 ₸222

8.70%

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

$20.1K ₸9.8M

$19.8K ₸9.6M

1.48%

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

$24.4K ₸11.9M

$24.6K ₸11.9M

-0.65%

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

$49.23 ₸23.9K

$51.1 ₸24.8K

-3.57%

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

$8.62 ₸4,186

$8.84 ₸4,294

-2.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.53 ₸6,085

$12.49 ₸6,069

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.14 ₸16.1K

$32.82 ₸15.9K

0.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,738

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 ₸2,105

$4.75 ₸2,308

-8.84%

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

$212 ₸103.2K

$49.35 ₸24.0K

330.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,783 ₸2.3M

$4,935 ₸2.4M

-3.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 ₸27.2K

$32.43 ₸15.8K

72.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.53 ₸16.8K

$30.01 ₸14.6K

15.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 ₸43.8K

$123 ₸59.6K

-26.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.2 ₸38.5K

$46.31 ₸22.5K

71.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 ₸154.5K

$306 ₸148.7K

3.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸99.7K

$177 ₸86.1K

15.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 ₸253.1K

$470 ₸228.5K

10.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₸192.7K

$354 ₸172.0K

12.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,060 ₸514.7K

$1,040 ₸505.1K

1.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$813 ₸395.0K

$911 ₸442.3K

-10.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸194.6K

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 Saryagash: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $318 in Saryagash and $306 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Saryagash vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $148 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

Saryagash vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saryagash and Shymkent differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $679 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,101 in Saryagash and $1,018 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: $318 in Saryagash versus $306 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $212 in Saryagash versus $49.35 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 $20.00 versus $27.00 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 8% less than in Saryagash. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.