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 $873 per month in Shah Alam vs $954 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,333 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,384 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,793 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,813 in Kostanay, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 8% cheaper than Kostanay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shah Alam and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam 35% lower, Kostanay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 12.16

$7.62 ₸3,589

-61.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 76.5

$24.91 ₸11.7K

-24.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.90

$6.33 ₸2,978

-34.76%

Cappuccino

$2.73 MYR 11.15

$2.30 ₸1,084

18.70%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$1.03 ₸484

-30.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.49

$0.80 ₸378

-55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$1.72 ₸811

108.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 MYR 17.62

$3.26 ₸1,534

32.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.38

$0.95 ₸449

89.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$0.44 ₸207

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.16 ₸546

28.45%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.29

$1.78 ₸836

14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 MYR 58.7

$7.70 ₸3,623

86.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 MYR 20.73

$5.26 ₸2,477

-3.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 MYR 32.41

$8.36 ₸3,936

-5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 MYR 11.45

$1.30 ₸611

115.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.13

$1.91 ₸900

-21.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$1.30 ₸613

96.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.09

$1.29 ₸607

-3.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$0.58 ₸275

94.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$0.24 ₸113

458.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.73

$0.96 ₸452

-5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.87 ₸408

-40.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.88

$2.21 ₸1,039

86.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 MYR 76.1

$7.84 ₸3,689

137.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.86

$1.01 ₸475

162.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 MYR 16.36

$2.72 ₸1,280

47.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$0.28 ₸131

164.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.20 MYR 62.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MYR 3.90

$1.02 ₸479

-6.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.20

$1.06 ₸498

-49.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.21 MYR 29.47

$5.76 ₸2,710

25.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.49 ₸232

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

$33.6K MYR 137.6K

$29.7K ₸14.0M

13.31%

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

$27.4K MYR 112.2K

$26.1K ₸12.3M

4.91%

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

$41.19 MYR 168

$72.6 ₸34.2K

-43.29%

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

$10.07 MYR 41.20

$9.65 ₸4,544

4.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 MYR 123

$10.88 ₸5,120

177.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.85 MYR 159

$39.74 ₸18.7K

-2.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 23.81

$17.31 ₸8,147

-66.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 MYR 26.04

$3.71 ₸1,746

71.70%

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

$210 MYR 861

$186 ₸87.4K

13.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,234 MYR 25.5K

$5,680 ₸2.7M

9.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 MYR 205

$105 ₸49.2K

-52.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.92 MYR 143

$56.3 ₸26.5K

-38.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 MYR 249

$114 ₸53.7K

-46.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.48 MYR 202

$102 ₸48.1K

-51.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,521

$385 ₸181.1K

-3.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,087

$330 ₸155.5K

-19.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MYR 2,398

$529 ₸249.2K

10.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MYR 1,970

$425 ₸200.0K

13.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,505 MYR 6,155

$1,137 ₸535.3K

32.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 MYR 4,942

$899 ₸423.4K

34.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,252 MYR 5,120

$626 ₸294.8K

99.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

18.5

-77.51%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah Alam versus $385 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 100% higher in Shah Alam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Shah Alam versus $25.00 in Kostanay. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Shah Alam vs $172 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

Kostanay costs about 9% more than Shah Alam, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,310 per month in Shah Alam and $1,432 in Kostanay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shah Alam, 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam and $25.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 44% cheaper in Kostanay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $873 in Shah Alam and $954 in Kostanay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Shah Alam – 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 Shah Alam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostanay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.