Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Aktobe Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Aktobe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $666 in Aktobe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,065 in Aktobe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $1,463 in Aktobe, rent included.

Shymkent costs about 2% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Aktobe are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Aktobe 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,692

$7.95 ₸3,898

20.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,637

$29.27 ₸14.3K

-32.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,318

$6.29 ₸3,083

7.63%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸917

$1.78 ₸873

5.06%

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

$1.01 ₸493

$1.40 ₸684

-27.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸214

$0.49 ₸240

-10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸566

$1.53 ₸752

-24.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸936

$2.18 ₸1,068

-12.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸537

$1.15 ₸562

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸149

$0.27 ₸133

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸771

$1.10 ₸537

42.73%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸706

$1.47 ₸719

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,894

$8.27 ₸4,053

-3.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,079

$4.82 ₸2,363

-12.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,185

$7.01 ₸3,433

-7.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸492

$1.37 ₸670

-27.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸899

$1.99 ₸977

-7.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸926

$2.32 ₸1,137

-18.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸502

$1.92 ₸941

-46.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸232

$0.79 ₸385

-40.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸185

$0.29 ₸140

31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸381

$0.75 ₸368

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸312

$0.63 ₸311

1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸935

$1.83 ₸896

4.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,946

$5.05 ₸2,473

-21.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸457

$0.93 ₸454

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸677

$1.54 ₸757

-10.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸78.2

$0.18 ₸86.4

-11.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸411

$0.99 ₸485

-15.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸310

$1.03 ₸506

-38.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,896

$4.58 ₸2,244

29.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸224

$0.49 ₸238

-6.12%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$17.6K ₸8.6M

12.53%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$19.3K ₸9.5M

27.06%

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

$51.1 ₸25.0K

$40.47 ₸19.8K

26.14%

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

$8.84 ₸4,332

$10.26 ₸5,028

-13.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,123

$10.78 ₸5,281

15.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.1K

$28.77 ₸14.1K

14.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,771

$9.68 ₸4,745

-20.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,329

$4.95 ₸2,428

-4.04%

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

$49.35 ₸24.2K

$212 ₸103.7K

-76.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$4,966 ₸2.4M

-0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.9K

$33.99 ₸16.7K

-4.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.7K

$29.76 ₸14.6K

0.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸60.1K

$90.9 ₸44.6K

34.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.7K

$63.9 ₸31.3K

-27.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸150.0K

$225 ₸110.1K

36.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.9K

$189 ₸92.4K

-5.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸230.6K

$348 ₸170.6K

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸173.5K

$282 ₸138.2K

25.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸509.6K

$775 ₸379.8K

34.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸446.2K

$487 ₸238.6K

86.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸196.3K

$510 ₸249.9K

-21.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

18.39

6.04%

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

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Last update for Aktobe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $225 in Aktobe. 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 Aktobe, 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 $20.00 in Shymkent versus $29.00 in Aktobe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $163 – 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 Aktobe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shymkent is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Shymkent and $999 in Aktobe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktobe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $679 in Shymkent and $666 in Aktobe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $49.35 per month in Shymkent and $212 in Aktobe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Shymkent and $666 in Aktobe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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