Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Atyrau Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Atyrau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $899 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,544 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $2,188 in Atyrau, rent included.

Shymkent is about 25% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Atyrau 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,664

$8.89 ₸4,332

7.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,579

$32.46 ₸15.8K

-39.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,298

$6.21 ₸3,027

9.02%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸912

$1.82 ₸886

2.75%

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

$1.01 ₸490

$1.11 ₸541

-9.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸213

$0.79 ₸383

-44.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸563

$1.45 ₸706

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸930

$1.81 ₸880

5.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸534

$1.43 ₸695

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.37 ₸182

-18.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸767

$1.54 ₸752

1.95%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸702

$1.49 ₸726

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,871

$9.03 ₸4,400

-11.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,066

$7.66 ₸3,730

-44.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,166

$6.91 ₸3,368

-5.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸489

$1.53 ₸747

-34.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸894

$2.42 ₸1,177

-23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸920

$2.01 ₸978

-5.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸499

$1.51 ₸737

-32.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.56 ₸273

-16.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.40 ₸194

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸378

$1.11 ₸540

-29.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸311

$1.24 ₸603

-48.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸930

$2.17 ₸1,059

-11.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,935

$8.85 ₸4,311

-55.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$1.20 ₸586

-22.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸673

$1.22 ₸596

13.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸77.7

$0.30 ₸148

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.43 ₸9,463

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸409

$1.39 ₸676

-39.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸308

$0.25 ₸123

152.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,879

$5.85 ₸2,848

1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸222

$0.49 ₸239

-6.12%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$15.5K ₸7.5M

28.14%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$23.1K ₸11.2M

6.37%

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

$51.1 ₸24.9K

$46.44 ₸22.6K

9.93%

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

$8.84 ₸4,306

$9.52 ₸4,638

-7.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,086

$12.62 ₸6,147

-1.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.0K

$57.8 ₸28.2K

-43.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,748

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,315

$5.46 ₸2,658

-13.00%

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

$49.35 ₸24.0K

$254 ₸123.9K

-80.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$3,075 ₸1.5M

60.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.8K

$29.85 ₸14.5K

8.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.6K

$38.52 ₸18.8K

-22.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸59.7K

$78.0 ₸38.0K

57.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.6K

$78.3 ₸38.1K

-40.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸149.1K

$461 ₸224.8K

-33.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.4K

$303 ₸147.8K

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸229.2K

$985 ₸479.9K

-52.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸172.4K

$796 ₸387.9K

-55.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸506.5K

$855 ₸416.4K

21.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸443.6K

$649 ₸316.1K

40.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸195.1K

$668 ₸325.2K

-39.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

-35.00%

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

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $461 in Atyrau. 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 67% higher in Atyrau, 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 $32.00 in Atyrau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $202 – 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 Atyrau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $679 in Shymkent, $899 in Atyrau – roughly 32% apart. Atyrau 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 $1,349 in Atyrau. 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 $899 in Atyrau. 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 $254 in Atyrau. 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 Atyrau at $899. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau 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, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.