Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $686 in Semey versus $683 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,092 in Semey versus $1,101 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,498 in Semey versus $1,519 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs are close between Semey and Shymkent; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semey 48% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₸2,080

$9.67 ₸4,585

-54.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.29 ₸12.9K

$19.73 ₸9,355

38.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 ₸2,317

$6.67 ₸3,162

-26.69%

Cappuccino

$1.58 ₸748

$1.81 ₸857

-12.71%

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

$0.92 ₸437

$1.01 ₸480

-8.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸265

$0.40 ₸190

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸569

$1.20 ₸568

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₸866

$1.84 ₸871

-0.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₸320

$1.11 ₸526

-38.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 ₸150

$0.28 ₸133

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₸757

$1.59 ₸752

0.63%

Eggs

$1.35 ₸640

$1.50 ₸711

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.84 ₸4,190

$8.23 ₸3,902

7.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 ₸2,238

$4.25 ₸2,014

11.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 ₸3,431

$6.54 ₸3,100

10.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 ₸608

$1.02 ₸486

25.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₸931

$1.84 ₸870

6.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ₸938

$1.84 ₸871

7.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸933

$0.98 ₸466

101.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸280

$0.45 ₸212

31.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸179

$0.37 ₸177

2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸445

$0.85 ₸402

10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸366

$0.68 ₸323

13.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,216

$1.97 ₸932

30.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.82 ₸3,235

$4.24 ₸2,008

60.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸437

$0.99 ₸470

-7.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₸749

$1.40 ₸662

12.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸99.8

$0.14 ₸64.5

50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 ₸448

$0.90 ₸426

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸299

$0.67 ₸317

-5.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 ₸2,272

$6.02 ₸2,854

-20.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸236

$0.46 ₸220

8.70%

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

$19.8K ₸9.4M

$19.5K ₸9.2M

1.51%

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

$24.6K ₸11.7M

$24.1K ₸11.4M

2.24%

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

$50.8 ₸24.1K

$49.50 ₸23.5K

2.53%

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

$8.86 ₸4,200

$8.69 ₸4,118

1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.85 ₸6,091

$12.73 ₸6,036

0.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 ₸16.0K

$33.88 ₸16.1K

-0.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.02 ₸4,750

$7.77 ₸3,684

28.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 ₸2,066

$4.84 ₸2,293

-9.92%

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

$212 ₸100.4K

$49.04 ₸23.2K

331.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,962 ₸2.4M

$4,801 ₸2.3M

3.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 ₸27.1K

$33.07 ₸15.7K

72.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.47 ₸16.8K

$30.22 ₸14.3K

17.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 ₸41.9K

$122 ₸57.9K

-27.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 ₸36.5K

$45.77 ₸21.7K

68.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₸146.3K

$301 ₸142.9K

2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₸95.8K

$176 ₸83.4K

14.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₸250.7K

$468 ₸221.7K

13.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 ₸182.1K

$358 ₸169.5K

7.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,036 ₸491.0K

$1,039 ₸492.5K

-0.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$893 ₸423.1K

$954 ₸452.2K

-6.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 ₸200.1K

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 Semey: July 28, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Semey and $301 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Semey vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 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

Semey vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $1,029 in Semey and $1,025 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: $309 in Semey versus $301 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $27.00 in Semey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Childcare runs $212 in Semey versus $49.04 in Shymkent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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, Semey 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.

It comes down to priorities – Shymkent wins on affordability, Semey on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.