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: $694 in Semey versus $675 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,111 in Semey versus $1,087 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,528 in Semey versus $1,499 in Shymkent.

Living in Semey is roughly 3% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semey 48% lower, Shymkent 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ₸2,033

$9.50 ₸4,358

-53.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 ₸12.4K

$19.72 ₸9,049

36.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 ₸2,136

$6.93 ₸3,181

-32.90%

Cappuccino

$1.54 ₸705

$1.80 ₸825

-14.44%

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

$0.91 ₸417

$1.02 ₸467

-10.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸255

$0.41 ₸188

36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸529

$1.19 ₸547

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₸846

$1.81 ₸831

1.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₸313

$1.15 ₸526

-40.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₸158

$0.28 ₸128

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₸762

$1.64 ₸753

1.22%

Eggs

$1.28 ₸587

$1.44 ₸661

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 ₸4,016

$8.24 ₸3,781

6.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 ₸2,063

$4.24 ₸1,947

6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₸3,243

$6.53 ₸2,997

8.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸590

$0.94 ₸431

37.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸895

$1.79 ₸820

8.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₸903

$1.91 ₸876

3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸867

$1.01 ₸464

87.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸257

$0.47 ₸216

19.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸172

$0.35 ₸160

5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₸459

$0.79 ₸361

26.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸352

$0.64 ₸291

20.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₸1,194

$1.92 ₸882

35.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.82 ₸3,127

$4.38 ₸2,008

55.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸433

$1.01 ₸462

-6.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₸737

$1.39 ₸639

15.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸80.4

$0.15 ₸70.3

20.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 ₸469

$0.84 ₸386

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸309

$0.67 ₸310

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 ₸2,199

$5.83 ₸2,675

-17.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸211

$0.49 ₸227

-6.12%

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

$20.1K ₸9.2M

$19.5K ₸9.0M

2.90%

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

$24.7K ₸11.3M

$24.4K ₸11.2M

1.19%

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

$50.3 ₸23.1K

$50.1 ₸23.0K

0.28%

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

$8.62 ₸3,956

$8.52 ₸3,908

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.89 ₸5,913

$12.63 ₸5,792

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₸15.4K

$33.54 ₸15.4K

0.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.68 ₸4,441

$7.74 ₸3,552

25.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 ₸2,002

$4.77 ₸2,188

-8.60%

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

$214 ₸98.3K

$48.41 ₸22.2K

342.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,808 ₸2.2M

$4,897 ₸2.2M

-1.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 ₸25.9K

$32.48 ₸14.9K

73.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 ₸16.4K

$30.48 ₸14.0K

16.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₸40.3K

$122 ₸56.1K

-28.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ₸36.0K

$46.94 ₸21.5K

67.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₸143.0K

$303 ₸139.1K

2.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₸92.1K

$176 ₸81.0K

13.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 ₸238.5K

$460 ₸211.0K

13.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸176.9K

$354 ₸162.6K

8.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸500.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸200.4K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Semey and $303 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 $165 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

Shymkent is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,041 in Semey and $1,013 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: $312 in Semey versus $303 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $214 in Semey versus $48.41 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 Semey. 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, 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.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Semey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.