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 $857 per month in Shah Alam vs $967 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,401 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,763 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,836 in Kostanay, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 11% cheaper than Kostanay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shah Alam and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam 36% lower, Kostanay 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 11.97

$7.71 ₸3,780

-60.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 MYR 75.1

$25.27 ₸12.4K

-25.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.37

$6.48 ₸3,176

-36.27%

Cappuccino

$2.73 MYR 10.81

$2.29 ₸1,121

19.21%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.87

$0.96 ₸469

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.46

$0.80 ₸393

-53.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.63

$1.79 ₸879

92.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.57

$3.34 ₸1,638

32.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.45

$0.98 ₸481

91.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.74

$0.44 ₸216

113.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.95

$1.16 ₸568

29.31%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.16

$1.78 ₸873

15.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 MYR 56.6

$8.12 ₸3,978

75.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 MYR 19.60

$5.26 ₸2,575

-6.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 MYR 32.06

$8.00 ₸3,922

1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.20

$1.25 ₸614

126.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.77

$2.00 ₸979

-27.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.22

$1.30 ₸636

98.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.82

$1.31 ₸641

-7.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.67

$0.54 ₸265

118.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.55

$0.24 ₸118

483.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.53

$0.94 ₸458

-5.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.25

$0.92 ₸450

-38.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.52

$2.20 ₸1,079

89.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 76.1

$7.80 ₸3,822

145.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.51

$0.97 ₸473

173.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 MYR 15.12

$2.69 ₸1,316

41.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.30 ₸148

130.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 MYR 60.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$1.00 ₸490

-4.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.16

$1.07 ₸527

-49.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.13 MYR 28.27

$5.71 ₸2,797

24.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$0.49 ₸241

-6.12%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.8K

$28.9K ₸14.2M

15.90%

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

$27.7K MYR 109.9K

$26.9K ₸13.2M

3.06%

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

$41.35 MYR 164

$72.4 ₸35.5K

-42.89%

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

$10.16 MYR 40.27

$9.79 ₸4,797

3.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.62 MYR 121

$11.18 ₸5,479

173.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.96 MYR 154

$39.58 ₸19.4K

-1.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 23.72

$17.76 ₸8,704

-66.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 MYR 25.23

$3.79 ₸1,859

67.81%

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

$213 MYR 844

$183 ₸89.7K

16.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,253 MYR 24.8K

$5,805 ₸2.8M

7.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.63 MYR 197

$105 ₸51.3K

-52.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 MYR 138

$56.3 ₸27.6K

-38.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 MYR 243

$116 ₸56.8K

-47.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.83 MYR 194

$101 ₸49.3K

-51.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,475

$381 ₸186.5K

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,054

$328 ₸160.9K

-19.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 MYR 2,285

$529 ₸259.3K

8.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,907

$427 ₸209.4K

12.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,553 MYR 6,156

$1,102 ₸540.3K

40.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 MYR 4,850

$864 ₸423.6K

41.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,263 MYR 5,008

$605 ₸296.4K

108.80%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah Alam versus $381 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 109% 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 – $249 in Shah Alam vs $173 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 13% 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 $1,286 per month in Shah Alam and $1,451 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 $857 in Shah Alam and $967 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.