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: $689 in Semey versus $695 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,093 in Semey versus $1,083 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,497 in Semey versus $1,472 in Shymkent.

Living in Semey costs roughly 1% less than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₸2,194

$9.50 ₸4,638

-52.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.81 ₸13.6K

$19.80 ₸9,670

40.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 ₸2,375

$6.97 ₸3,407

-30.27%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ₸775

$1.85 ₸903

-14.05%

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

$0.92 ₸448

$1.02 ₸498

-9.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₸269

$0.43 ₸211

27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸578

$1.20 ₸585

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸886

$1.90 ₸929

-4.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₸332

$1.12 ₸546

-39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 ₸156

$0.28 ₸135

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₸780

$1.59 ₸776

0.63%

Eggs

$1.28 ₸623

$1.46 ₸711

-12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.91 ₸4,350

$8.15 ₸3,982

9.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 ₸2,262

$4.30 ₸2,099

7.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 ₸3,441

$6.50 ₸3,173

8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.03 ₸501

30.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸950

$1.81 ₸883

7.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₸943

$1.87 ₸914

3.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₸933

$0.99 ₸482

92.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸266

$0.45 ₸219

22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.35 ₸169

8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸461

$0.82 ₸403

14.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸372

$0.63 ₸309

20.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,253

$1.99 ₸971

29.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 ₸3,263

$4.15 ₸2,028

60.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₸479

$0.95 ₸466

3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸753

$1.34 ₸655

14.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸109

$0.13 ₸61.9

69.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 ₸465

$0.92 ₸451

3.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸326

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 ₸2,326

$6.01 ₸2,937

-20.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.50 ₸246

-6.00%

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

$20.4K ₸10.0M

$19.2K ₸9.4M

5.91%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$23.9K ₸11.7M

2.93%

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

$50.4 ₸24.6K

$50.3 ₸24.5K

0.38%

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

$8.66 ₸4,232

$8.79 ₸4,295

-1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 ₸6,330

$12.41 ₸6,063

4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.37 ₸16.3K

$33.03 ₸16.1K

1.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.92 ₸4,846

$7.68 ₸3,751

29.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 ₸2,125

$4.91 ₸2,398

-11.41%

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

$212 ₸103.6K

$49.20 ₸24.0K

331.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,930 ₸2.4M

$4,815 ₸2.4M

2.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 ₸27.9K

$32.19 ₸15.7K

77.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 ₸17.0K

$30.03 ₸14.7K

15.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 ₸42.6K

$120 ₸58.5K

-27.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ₸38.3K

$46.08 ₸22.5K

70.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₸156.2K

$308 ₸150.4K

3.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 ₸97.4K

$174 ₸85.1K

14.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₸252.9K

$474 ₸231.3K

9.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₸192.9K

$363 ₸177.4K

8.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,032 ₸503.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 ₸201.0K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Semey and $308 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Semey vs $20.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $149 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

Semey is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,034 in Semey and $1,042 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: $320 in Semey versus $308 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $212 in Semey versus $49.20 in Shymkent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Semey – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $20.00 in Shymkent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Semey 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 Semey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.