Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Almaty

🙂 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 18.1% cheaper than Almaty without rent, and 35.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shymkent is 24.9% cheaper than Almaty without rent, and 34.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.81 ₸4,614
$7.99 ₸3,759
22.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.23 ₸9,047
$39.80 ₸18.7K
-51.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 ₸3,237
$6.74 ₸3,171
2.08%
Cappuccino
$1.80 ₸847
$2.29 ₸1,080
-21.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₸483
$0.97 ₸455
6.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₸191
$0.56 ₸265
-26.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₸557
$1.41 ₸663
-16.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₸883
$2.91 ₸1,371
-35.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ₸540
$1.31 ₸617
-12.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₸142
$0.54 ₸255
-44.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 ₸739
$1.53 ₸720
2.61%
Eggs
$1.50 ₸708
$1.78 ₸836
-15.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 ₸3,712
$9.63 ₸4,532
-18.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 ₸2,071
$4.67 ₸2,198
-5.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.44 ₸3,033
$7.84 ₸3,689
-17.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 ₸483
$1.34 ₸631
-23.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ₸881
$1.96 ₸925
-4.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸891
$1.89 ₸888
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ₸483
$2.04 ₸959
-49.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸209
$0.62 ₸290
-29.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 ₸163
$0.40 ₸187
-12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₸363
$1.24 ₸582
-37.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₸316
$0.75 ₸353
-10.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ₸894
$1.99 ₸934
-4.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.31 ₸2,028
$8.54 ₸4,019
-49.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₸480
$0.83 ₸390
22.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₸637
$2.14 ₸1,007
-36.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ₸65.0
$0.24 ₸113
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.16 ₸8,546
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₸422
$1.20 ₸567
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸319
$0.67 ₸316
1.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 ₸2,770
$4.61 ₸2,171
27.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 ₸237
$0.49 ₸230
2.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ₸9.2M
$23.7K ₸11.2M
-17.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ₸11.5M
$27.3K ₸12.9M
-10.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.67 ₸23.4K
$63.7 ₸30.0K
-22.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.62 ₸4,056
$8.97 ₸4,222
-3.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.89 ₸6,065
$13.93 ₸6,554
-7.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.59 ₸15.8K
$48.63 ₸22.9K
-30.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.91 ₸3,721
$21.11 ₸9,932
-62.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 ₸2,327
$5.11 ₸2,403
-3.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.85 ₸23.0K
$261 ₸122.7K
-81.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,896 ₸2.3M
$12.7K ₸6.0M
-61.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.15 ₸15.6K
$84.9 ₸39.9K
-60.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12 ₸14.2K
$44.01 ₸20.7K
-31.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₸55.7K
$97.2 ₸45.7K
21.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 ₸22.1K
$121 ₸57.0K
-61.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸142.4K
$656 ₸308.5K
-53.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₸84.4K
$422 ₸198.7K
-57.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ₸219.5K
$1,188 ₸558.9K
-60.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 ₸170.3K
$760 ₸357.7K
-52.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,035 ₸487.0K
$2,105 ₸990.4K
-50.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$944 ₸444.2K
$1,289 ₸606.4K
-26.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$413 ₸194.2K
$822 ₸386.7K
-49.78%
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 13, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 12, 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