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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Shymkent is about 36% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shymkent and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,664

$8.03 ₸3,911

19.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,579

$38.47 ₸18.7K

-48.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,298

$6.97 ₸3,396

-2.87%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸912

$2.40 ₸1,167

-22.08%

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

$1.01 ₸490

$0.98 ₸475

3.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸213

$0.57 ₸276

-22.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸563

$1.40 ₸683

-17.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸930

$2.99 ₸1,455

-36.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸534

$1.31 ₸640

-16.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.60 ₸291

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸767

$1.54 ₸751

1.95%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸702

$1.74 ₸847

-17.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,871

$9.74 ₸4,744

-18.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,066

$4.70 ₸2,288

-9.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,166

$7.50 ₸3,656

-13.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸489

$1.35 ₸657

-25.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸894

$1.98 ₸964

-7.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸920

$1.95 ₸951

-3.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸499

$2.07 ₸1,008

-50.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.63 ₸306

-25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.42 ₸205

-9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸378

$1.24 ₸604

-37.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸311

$0.71 ₸344

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸930

$1.97 ₸960

-3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,935

$10.09 ₸4,917

-60.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$0.88 ₸431

5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸673

$2.04 ₸993

-32.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸77.7

$0.24 ₸117

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸409

$1.16 ₸564

-27.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸308

$0.70 ₸341

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,879

$4.80 ₸2,341

23.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸222

$0.49 ₸238

-6.12%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-14.57%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$27.2K ₸13.3M

-9.86%

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

$51.1 ₸24.9K

$63.8 ₸31.1K

-20.02%

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

$8.84 ₸4,306

$8.60 ₸4,188

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,086

$13.83 ₸6,737

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.0K

$48.67 ₸23.7K

-32.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,748

$21.24 ₸10.3K

-63.79%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,315

$5.11 ₸2,490

-7.05%

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

$49.35 ₸24.0K

$267 ₸130.0K

-81.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-61.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.8K

$84.0 ₸40.9K

-61.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.6K

$43.48 ₸21.2K

-30.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸59.7K

$96.8 ₸47.2K

26.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.6K

$119 ₸58.2K

-61.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸149.1K

$665 ₸324.0K

-53.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.4K

$420 ₸204.4K

-57.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸229.2K

$1,175 ₸572.4K

-59.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸172.4K

$773 ₸376.7K

-54.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸506.5K

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-51.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸443.6K

$1,254 ₸610.9K

-27.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸195.1K

$789 ₸384.6K

-49.26%

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 Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $665 in Almaty. 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 97% higher in Almaty, 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 $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $189 – 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 Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,586 in Almaty. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $679 in Shymkent and $1,057 in Almaty. 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 $267 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.