Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Shymkent is about 26% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,664

$8.10 ₸3,947

18.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,579

$28.85 ₸14.1K

-31.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,298

$5.76 ₸2,805

17.53%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸912

$2.19 ₸1,069

-14.61%

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

$1.01 ₸490

$0.91 ₸445

10.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸213

$0.53 ₸260

-16.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸563

$1.14 ₸556

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸930

$2.95 ₸1,436

-35.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸534

$1.01 ₸493

8.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.50 ₸245

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸767

$1.40 ₸682

12.14%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸702

$1.79 ₸871

-19.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,871

$9.34 ₸4,549

-14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,066

$4.73 ₸2,306

-10.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,166

$6.96 ₸3,390

-6.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸489

$1.36 ₸663

-26.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸894

$1.87 ₸910

-1.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸920

$1.92 ₸937

-1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸499

$1.97 ₸962

-48.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.58 ₸284

-18.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸378

$1.02 ₸496

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸311

$0.75 ₸365

-14.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸930

$1.81 ₸880

5.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,935

$9.14 ₸4,452

-56.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$1.02 ₸498

-8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸673

$1.70 ₸826

-18.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸77.7

$0.21 ₸102

-23.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,095

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸409

$1.79 ₸871

-53.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸308

$0.71 ₸346

-11.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,879

$4.51 ₸2,197

31.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸222

$0.47 ₸227

-2.13%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$20.7K ₸10.1M

-4.41%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$24.7K ₸12.1M

-0.77%

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

$51.1 ₸24.9K

$53.9 ₸26.3K

-5.36%

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

$8.84 ₸4,306

$8.00 ₸3,899

10.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,086

$13.90 ₸6,769

-10.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.0K

$49.83 ₸24.3K

-34.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,748

$11.16 ₸5,434

-31.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,315

$5.30 ₸2,579

-10.38%

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

$49.35 ₸24.0K

$238 ₸116.1K

-79.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$4,790 ₸2.3M

3.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.8K

$55.8 ₸27.2K

-41.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.6K

$34.85 ₸17.0K

-13.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸59.7K

$88.8 ₸43.3K

38.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.6K

$86.1 ₸41.9K

-46.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸149.1K

$478 ₸232.8K

-35.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.4K

$328 ₸159.7K

-45.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸229.2K

$848 ₸413.3K

-44.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸172.4K

$598 ₸291.1K

-40.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸506.5K

$1,378 ₸671.3K

-24.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸443.6K

$993 ₸483.6K

-8.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸195.1K

$798 ₸388.9K

-49.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

16.12

20.97%

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

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $478 in Astana. 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 99% higher in Astana, 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 $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $178 – 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $679 in Shymkent, $912 in Astana – roughly 34% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Shymkent and $1,367 in Astana. 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 $29.00 in Astana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Astana at $912. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $679 in Shymkent to $912 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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