Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Alga Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Alga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Shymkent versus $730 in Alga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Shymkent versus $1,180 in Alga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Shymkent versus $1,630 in Alga.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 8% less than in Alga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 50% lower, Alga 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,392

$7.69 ₸3,554

23.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.72 ₸9,120

$27.72 ₸12.8K

-28.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,206

$6.54 ₸3,023

5.96%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₸832

$1.92 ₸888

-6.25%

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

$1.02 ₸471

$0.93 ₸429

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸189

$0.48 ₸224

-14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸552

$1.20 ₸553

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸838

$1.90 ₸880

-4.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸530

$1.09 ₸505

5.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸129

$0.38 ₸177

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸759

$1.36 ₸630

20.59%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸666

$1.61 ₸742

-10.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 ₸3,810

$8.55 ₸3,954

-3.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸1,962

$4.65 ₸2,152

-8.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ₸3,020

$7.32 ₸3,384

-10.79%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ₸435

$1.36 ₸628

-30.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₸827

$1.96 ₸905

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸883

$1.98 ₸914

-3.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₸467

$1.90 ₸880

-46.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸218

$0.59 ₸275

-20.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸162

$0.38 ₸175

-7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸364

$0.92 ₸427

-14.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸294

$0.73 ₸335

-12.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 ₸889

$1.93 ₸892

-0.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₸2,023

$7.56 ₸3,497

-42.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸466

$0.99 ₸458

2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸644

$1.60 ₸742

-13.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.8

$0.18 ₸82.0

-16.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸389

$1.00 ₸461

-16.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸312

$0.68 ₸312

-1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 ₸2,696

$4.77 ₸2,205

22.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸229

$0.50 ₸230

-2.00%

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

$19.5K ₸9.0M

$19.8K ₸9.2M

-1.55%

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

$24.4K ₸11.3M

$24.8K ₸11.5M

-1.75%

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

$50.1 ₸23.2K

$50.6 ₸23.4K

-0.99%

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

$8.52 ₸3,938

$8.59 ₸3,971

-0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.63 ₸5,838

$12.72 ₸5,882

-0.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 ₸15.5K

$32.76 ₸15.1K

2.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,579

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 ₸2,205

$4.54 ₸2,099

5.07%

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

$48.41 ₸22.4K

$208 ₸96.3K

-76.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,897 ₸2.3M

$4,911 ₸2.3M

-0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.48 ₸15.0K

$56.4 ₸26.1K

-42.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 ₸14.1K

$34.81 ₸16.1K

-12.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸56.5K

$87.6 ₸40.5K

39.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.94 ₸21.7K

$78.4 ₸36.2K

-40.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸140.2K

$320 ₸148.1K

-5.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸81.6K

$204 ₸94.4K

-13.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₸212.6K

$528 ₸244.2K

-12.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸163.9K

$393 ₸181.6K

-9.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸504.6K

$1,214 ₸561.5K

-10.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸442.1K

$701 ₸324.1K

36.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸202.0K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Alga: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Shymkent and $320 in Alga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $28.00 in Alga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $172 per month, with Shymkent cheaper across the board.

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 Alga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Alga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,013 in Shymkent and $1,096 in Alga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Shymkent versus $320 in Alga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Alga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $675 per month in Shymkent versus $730 in Alga – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Shymkent gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Shymkent and Alga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Alga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.