Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Kostanay Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Kostanay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Shah Alam vs $936 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,435 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,933 in Kostanay, rent included.

Shah Alam costs about 2% more than Kostanay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shah Alam and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam 30% lower, Kostanay 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 MYR 15.42

$5.45 ₸2,484

-29.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.79 MYR 79.8

$28.71 ₸13.1K

-31.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.74

$7.19 ₸3,276

-42.28%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.87

$2.13 ₸972

38.03%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$1.15 ₸522

-33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.53

$0.83 ₸378

-54.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 MYR 13.84

$1.39 ₸634

146.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 MYR 18.51

$2.53 ₸1,151

81.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.56

$1.24 ₸565

50.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.32

$0.48 ₸219

122.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.80

$1.03 ₸469

39.81%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.59

$2.20 ₸1,002

-3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 MYR 53.5

$10.03 ₸4,568

32.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.48

$5.70 ₸2,599

-24.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.51

$8.59 ₸3,913

13.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.88

$1.58 ₸722

117.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.87

$2.26 ₸1,032

-24.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.15

$1.88 ₸854

46.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 MYR 7.38

$2.27 ₸1,034

-19.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.05

$0.54 ₸246

131.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 MYR 8.36

$0.62 ₸281

233.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 MYR 5.92

$1.19 ₸541

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.92 ₸417

-38.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 16.96

$2.41 ₸1,097

74.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 MYR 77.0

$8.05 ₸3,669

137.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 MYR 11.24

$1.10 ₸500

153.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.04

$2.30 ₸1,047

94.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.09

$0.32 ₸144

140.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.34 MYR 65.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 MYR 5.15

$0.94 ₸427

36.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$1.06 ₸484

-63.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 MYR 30.50

$5.85 ₸2,664

29.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 MYR 3.02

$0.54 ₸246

38.89%

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

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

$30.6K ₸14.0M

37.55%

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

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

$29.1K ₸13.3M

21.85%

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

$38.25 MYR 154

$75.3 ₸34.3K

-49.22%

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

$9.86 MYR 39.79

$10.72 ₸4,883

-8.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MYR 121

$15.65 ₸7,128

91.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 MYR 160

$46.28 ₸21.1K

-14.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 MYR 20.25

$19.86 ₸9,048

-74.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.68 MYR 26.94

$4.20 ₸1,913

59.05%

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

$202 MYR 814

$207 ₸94.3K

-2.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

$6,436 ₸2.9M

-29.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 MYR 236

$92.3 ₸42.0K

-36.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.95 MYR 161

$52.7 ₸24.0K

-24.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 MYR 276

$106 ₸48.5K

-35.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 286

$89.3 ₸40.7K

-20.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 MYR 1,412

$388 ₸176.9K

-9.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,255

$304 ₸138.4K

2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 MYR 2,288

$580 ₸264.4K

-2.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 MYR 2,241

$471 ₸214.8K

17.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 MYR 6,007

$1,190 ₸541.9K

25.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MYR 4,764

$910 ₸414.6K

29.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,238 MYR 4,994

$646 ₸294.5K

91.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

18.5

-77.08%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Shah Alam versus $388 in Kostanay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 92% higher in Shah Alam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shah Alam versus $29.00 in Kostanay. Groceries tell a different story – $264 in Shah Alam vs $200 in Kostanay – so Kostanay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Shah Alam vs Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shah Alam costs about 2% more than Kostanay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Shah Alam and $1,404 in Kostanay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostanay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shah Alam and $29.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Shah Alam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $958 in Shah Alam and $936 in Kostanay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kostanay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kostanay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shah Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.