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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $776 per month in Shymkent vs $1,006 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,352 per month in Shymkent vs $1,634 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,928 per month in Shymkent vs $2,263 in Atyrau, rent included.

Shymkent is about 23% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 43% lower, Atyrau 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₸4,907

$9.80 ₸4,464

9.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.49 ₸14.8K

$36.21 ₸16.5K

-10.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ₸3,021

$6.97 ₸3,176

-4.88%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₸1,091

$1.99 ₸905

20.10%

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

$1.02 ₸467

$1.12 ₸511

-8.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸242

$0.75 ₸343

-29.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₸480

$1.61 ₸732

-34.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸607

$2.11 ₸960

-36.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₸666

$1.69 ₸769

-13.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₸193

$0.47 ₸213

-10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ₸783

$1.94 ₸883

-11.34%

Eggs

$1.63 ₸741

$1.54 ₸701

5.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 ₸4,670

$10.63 ₸4,844

-3.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 ₸2,343

$8.48 ₸3,863

-39.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.80 ₸4,009

$7.85 ₸3,577

12.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 ₸538

$1.80 ₸820

-34.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ₸954

$2.54 ₸1,157

-17.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₸1,139

$2.24 ₸1,019

11.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ₸614

$1.71 ₸780

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₸244

$0.60 ₸275

-11.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸181

$0.43 ₸197

-6.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₸392

$1.22 ₸557

-29.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸380

$0.91 ₸413

-8.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₸1,121

$2.43 ₸1,106

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.36 ₸1,987

$9.44 ₸4,300

-53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₸476

$1.30 ₸590

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸703

$1.37 ₸625

12.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸60.1

$0.34 ₸157

-61.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.37 ₸9,736

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₸377

$1.54 ₸700

-46.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ₸166

$0.65 ₸295

-43.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.78 ₸4,457

$6.64 ₸3,023

47.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 ₸267

$0.61 ₸276

-3.28%

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

$26.9K ₸12.2M

$17.5K ₸8.0M

53.98%

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

$29.0K ₸13.2M

0.16%

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

$46.53 ₸21.2K

$50.6 ₸23.0K

-7.95%

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

$9.10 ₸4,145

$10.79 ₸4,914

-15.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.64 ₸6,671

$14.38 ₸6,550

1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₸17.6K

$64.8 ₸29.5K

-40.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,920

$9.86 ₸4,492

-12.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₸2,462

$6.12 ₸2,788

-11.76%

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

$56.5 ₸25.7K

$281 ₸128.2K

-79.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 ₸1.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.70 ₸16.3K

$32.70 ₸14.9K

9.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.12 ₸15.1K

$43.73 ₸19.9K

-24.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ₸82.9K

$87.5 ₸39.9K

108.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 ₸23.7K

$86.0 ₸39.2K

-39.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸151.8K

$508 ₸231.6K

-34.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₸91.9K

$339 ₸154.7K

-40.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₸315.7K

$1,084 ₸494.0K

-36.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 ₸250.7K

$770 ₸350.9K

-28.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 ₸489.6K

$949 ₸432.3K

13.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 ₸443.6K

$747 ₸340.4K

30.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 ₸196.9K

$710 ₸323.4K

-39.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-39.17%

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

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Shymkent versus $508 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 64% 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 $32.00 in Shymkent versus $36.00 in Atyrau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $222 – 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: $776 in Shymkent, $1,006 in Atyrau – roughly 30% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Shymkent and $1,509 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 $776 in Shymkent and $1,006 in Atyrau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $56.5 per month in Shymkent and $281 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 $776, than in Atyrau at $1,006. 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.