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

😐 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 5.5% more expensive than Aktau without rent, and 4.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shymkent is 14.1% cheaper than Aktau without rent, and 7.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.81 ₸4,614
$9.57 ₸4,502
2.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.23 ₸9,047
$38.68 ₸18.2K
-50.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 ₸3,237
$8.58 ₸4,038
-19.81%
Cappuccino
$1.80 ₸847
$2.19 ₸1,031
-17.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₸483
$0.55 ₸257
87.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₸191
$0.44 ₸207
-6.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₸557
$1.14 ₸535
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₸883
$1.38 ₸651
36.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ₸540
$1.19 ₸559
-3.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₸142
$0.41 ₸194
-26.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 ₸739
$1.64 ₸770
-4.27%
Eggs
$1.50 ₸708
$1.36 ₸641
10.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 ₸3,712
$8.58 ₸4,039
-8.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 ₸2,071
$4.10 ₸1,928
7.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.44 ₸3,033
$7.94 ₸3,737
-18.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 ₸483
$1.30 ₸613
-20.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ₸881
$1.98 ₸934
-5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸891
$2.03 ₸957
-6.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ₸483
$2.56 ₸1,206
-59.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸209
$0.55 ₸260
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 ₸163
$0.51 ₸242
-31.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₸363
$1.32 ₸619
-41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₸316
$0.81 ₸380
-17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ₸894
$2.40 ₸1,132
-20.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.31 ₸2,028
$9.10 ₸4,282
-52.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₸480
$0.65 ₸305
56.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₸637
$0.80 ₸379
68.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ₸65.0
$0.14 ₸68.2
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₸422
$1.02 ₸479
-11.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸319
$0.57 ₸268
19.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 ₸2,770
$4.80 ₸2,261
22.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 ₸237
$0.47 ₸221
6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ₸9.2M
$19.8K ₸9.3M
-0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ₸11.5M
$24.2K ₸11.4M
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.67 ₸23.4K
$39.95 ₸18.8K
24.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.62 ₸4,056
$7.78 ₸3,659
10.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.89 ₸6,065
$9.31 ₸4,383
38.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.59 ₸15.8K
$32.54 ₸15.3K
3.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.91 ₸3,721
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 ₸2,327
$2.80 ₸1,319
76.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.85 ₸23.0K
$126 ₸59.2K
-61.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,896 ₸2.3M
$2,346 ₸1.1M
108.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.15 ₸15.6K
$58.8 ₸27.6K
-43.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12 ₸14.2K
$35.06 ₸16.5K
-14.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₸55.7K
$63.0 ₸29.6K
88.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 ₸22.1K
$79.5 ₸37.4K
-40.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸142.4K
$252 ₸118.5K
20.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₸84.4K
$180 ₸84.6K
-0.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ₸219.5K
$448 ₸210.8K
4.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 ₸170.3K
$371 ₸174.5K
-2.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,035 ₸487.0K
$771 ₸363.0K
34.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$944 ₸444.2K
$601 ₸282.7K
57.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$413 ₸194.2K
$544 ₸256.0K
-24.14%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Aktau: April 13, 2026

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

Shymkent vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities