Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Aktau Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Aktau

🙂 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 13.6% cheaper than Aktau without rent, and 4.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shymkent is 12.5% cheaper than Aktau without rent, and 7.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.80 ₸4,896
$9.67 ₸4,831
1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.33 ₸9,660
$38.59 ₸19.3K
-49.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 ₸3,438
$8.78 ₸4,389
-21.64%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₸926
$2.29 ₸1,143
-19.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₸478
$0.54 ₸272
77.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₸218
$0.44 ₸219
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 ₸576
$1.15 ₸573
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₸904
$1.39 ₸697
30.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₸558
$1.16 ₸578
-3.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₸150
$0.38 ₸191
-21.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₸809
$1.69 ₸846
-4.14%
Eggs
$1.50 ₸749
$1.37 ₸684
9.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 ₸4,104
$8.78 ₸4,386
-6.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.34 ₸2,171
$4.01 ₸2,003
8.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.28 ₸3,136
$7.52 ₸3,759
-16.49%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 ₸468
$1.30 ₸652
-27.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₸922
$2.01 ₸1,003
-8.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸946
$2.05 ₸1,023
-7.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 ₸494
$2.49 ₸1,247
-60.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸221
$0.58 ₸291
-24.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 ₸172
$0.47 ₸234
-27.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₸386
$1.32 ₸657
-41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₸314
$0.80 ₸399
-21.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 ₸980
$2.41 ₸1,204
-18.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.08 ₸2,039
$8.44 ₸4,220
-51.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₸480
$0.69 ₸346
39.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₸676
$0.78 ₸389
73.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 ₸65.0
$0.14 ₸70.3
-7.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₸448
$1.01 ₸504
-10.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸341
$0.58 ₸288
17.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 ₸2,914
$4.62 ₸2,308
26.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 ₸247
$0.46 ₸230
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ₸9.9M
$19.8K ₸9.9M
0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K ₸12.1M
$24.2K ₸12.1M
0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.40 ₸24.7K
$39.85 ₸19.9K
23.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.72 ₸4,356
$7.52 ₸3,756
15.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.54 ₸6,263
$9.25 ₸4,623
35.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.89 ₸16.9K
$32.07 ₸16.0K
5.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 ₸3,840
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 ₸2,489
$2.72 ₸1,358
83.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.41 ₸24.7K
$128 ₸64.1K
-61.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,849 ₸2.4M
$2,338 ₸1.2M
107.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.90 ₸16.4K
$59.4 ₸29.7K
-44.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.59 ₸14.8K
$35.29 ₸17.6K
-16.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₸59.7K
$64.7 ₸32.3K
84.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.41 ₸23.2K
$76.9 ₸38.4K
-39.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸151.6K
$252 ₸126.1K
20.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 ₸86.4K
$176 ₸87.7K
-1.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 ₸233.2K
$444 ₸221.7K
5.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ₸180.6K
$359 ₸179.6K
0.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$998 ₸498.4K
$710 ₸354.8K
40.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$897 ₸448.2K
$591 ₸295.5K
51.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$403 ₸201.2K
$511 ₸255.2K
-21.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.5
8
143.75%

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

Last update for Shymkent: February 28, 2026

Last update for Aktau: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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