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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Shymkent vs $692 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,076 per month in Shymkent vs $1,180 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,473 per month in Shymkent vs $1,668 in Aktau, rent included.

Shymkent is about 2% cheaper than Aktau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Aktau 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ₸4,669

$9.66 ₸4,540

2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.90 ₸9,353

$39.51 ₸18.6K

-49.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 ₸3,287

$8.76 ₸4,118

-20.21%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸868

$2.27 ₸1,067

-18.50%

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

$0.99 ₸467

$0.52 ₸244

90.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸192

$0.40 ₸189

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸542

$1.19 ₸561

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸898

$1.36 ₸639

40.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸541

$1.16 ₸543

-0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸142

$0.41 ₸194

-26.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸767

$1.64 ₸771

-0.61%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸676

$1.37 ₸646

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₸3,724

$8.69 ₸4,084

-8.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸1,967

$4.02 ₸1,888

3.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 ₸3,042

$7.88 ₸3,704

-17.89%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 ₸450

$1.34 ₸629

-28.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 ₸837

$2.06 ₸967

-13.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸896

$2.11 ₸991

-9.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸480

$2.54 ₸1,195

-59.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸224

$0.59 ₸279

-18.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸178

$0.51 ₸240

-25.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸373

$1.35 ₸634

-41.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸322

$0.85 ₸401

-18.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸937

$2.41 ₸1,131

-17.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.33 ₸2,034

$8.96 ₸4,209

-51.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸443

$0.65 ₸305

44.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸627

$0.81 ₸380

64.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.0

$0.14 ₸63.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₸418

$0.95 ₸445

-6.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸294

$0.63 ₸295

-1.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 ₸2,724

$4.78 ₸2,248

21.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸234

$0.46 ₸216

8.70%

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

$19.3K ₸9.1M

$20.5K ₸9.6M

-5.57%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$24.2K ₸11.4M

-1.23%

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

$50.4 ₸23.7K

$41.02 ₸19.3K

22.96%

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

$8.64 ₸4,060

$7.82 ₸3,677

10.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸5,981

$9.36 ₸4,401

36.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸15.5K

$32.08 ₸15.1K

2.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,670

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 ₸2,367

$2.68 ₸1,261

88.06%

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

$48.24 ₸22.7K

$127 ₸59.8K

-62.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,849 ₸2.3M

$2,363 ₸1.1M

105.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.02 ₸15.5K

$59.0 ₸27.7K

-44.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₸14.0K

$34.97 ₸16.4K

-14.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.4K

$62.6 ₸29.4K

91.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.86 ₸22.0K

$77.5 ₸36.4K

-39.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₸139.7K

$246 ₸115.7K

20.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸81.7K

$181 ₸85.2K

-4.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₸223.2K

$455 ₸213.8K

4.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₸171.5K

$369 ₸173.3K

-1.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸488.5K

$747 ₸351.2K

39.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 ₸439.7K

$616 ₸289.3K

51.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$415 ₸195.2K

$529 ₸248.7K

-21.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

143.75%

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

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Last update for Aktau: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Shymkent versus $246 in Aktau. 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 27% higher in Aktau, 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 Shymkent versus $40.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $179 – making Shymkent the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aktau costs about 2% more than Shymkent, 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 $1,018 per month in Shymkent and $1,038 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shymkent, 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 Shymkent and $40.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Aktau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $678 in Shymkent and $692 in Aktau, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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