Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Shymkent: $809 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $22,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

39

Cost of Living Index in Shymkent
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Shymkent Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Shymkent

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$809

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shymkent and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shymkent and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $809 in Shymkent versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

Shymkent $809
Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Shymkent versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Shymkent $1,366
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,924 in Shymkent versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

Shymkent $1,924
Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 70% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Shymkent is 40% below, Austin, TX is 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.06 ₸4,979

$20.22 $20.22

-45.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.96 ₸15.3K

$85.0 $85.0

-60.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₸2,915

$12.35 $12.35

-47.53%

Cappuccino

$2.50 ₸1,125

$5.47 $5.47

-54.30%

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

$1.08 ₸486

$3.82 $3.82

-71.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₸227

$2.50 $2.50

-80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₸478

$8.06 $8.06

-86.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₸583

$8.99 $8.99

-85.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ₸654

$1.13 $1.13

28.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸198

$3.78 $3.78

-88.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 ₸787

$3.25 $3.25

-46.15%

Eggs

$1.65 ₸743

$4.14 $4.14

-60.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₸4,535

$13.08 $13.08

-23.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ₸2,300

$14.31 $14.31

-64.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 ₸3,787

$15.96 $15.96

-47.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 ₸537

$4.38 $4.38

-72.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ₸978

$1.45 $1.45

49.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₸1,101

$4.54 $4.54

-46.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ₸608

$4.19 $4.19

-67.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 ₸229

$2.63 $2.63

-80.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸181

$2.36 $2.36

-83.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₸416

$1.76 $1.76

-47.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₸355

$2.16 $2.16

-63.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ₸1,091

$9.81 $9.81

-75.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.40 ₸1,981

$14.72 $14.72

-70.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₸479

$2.78 $2.78

-61.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ₸682

$3.48 $3.48

-56.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸68.0

$1.49 $1.49

-89.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₸375

$2.67 $2.67

-68.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ₸163

$1.58 $1.58

-77.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.79 ₸4,408

$35.29 $35.29

-72.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 ₸271

$0.99 $0.99

-39.39%

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

$27.8K ₸12.5M

$35.8K $35.8K

-22.40%

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

$29.1K ₸13.1M

$27.2K $27.2K

6.92%

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

$47.16 ₸21.2K

$219 $219

-78.49%

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

$9.06 ₸4,078

$58.0 $58.0

-84.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.10 ₸6,799

$68.4 $68.4

-77.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 ₸17.5K

$57.9 $57.9

-32.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.55 ₸3,849

$14.82 $14.82

-42.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₸2,533

$14.13 $14.13

-60.16%

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

$56.9 ₸25.6K

$1,509 $1,509

-96.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.94 ₸16.2K

$51.7 $51.7

-30.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.11 ₸14.9K

$44.05 $44.05

-24.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ₸81.6K

$85.1 $85.1

112.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.4 ₸23.1K

$105 $105

-51.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸149.8K

$1,932 $1,932

-82.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₸88.8K

$1,272 $1,272

-84.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₸311.9K

$3,670 $3,670

-81.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₸250.3K

$2,525 $2,525

-77.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,109 ₸499.1K

$7,617 $7,617

-85.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 ₸439.0K

$3,199 $3,199

-69.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸196.9K

$5,105 $5,105

-91.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

6.79

168.78%

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

Last update for Shymkent: October 5, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Shymkent

$197 24.9%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2% 545% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Shymkent

$182 23%

Austin, TX

$403 15.3% 122% $221

Eating Out

Shymkent

$152 19.2%

Austin, TX

$348 13.2% 129% $196

Clothing & Footwear

Shymkent

$136 17.2%

Austin, TX

$129 4.9% 5.1% $7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Shymkent

$71 9%

Austin, TX

$346 13.1% 385% $274

Sport & Entertainment

Shymkent

$50 6.3%

Austin, TX

$86 3.3% 72.1% $36

Getting Around

Shymkent

$3.3 * 0.4%

Austin, TX

$57 2.2% 1654% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Shymkent and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1067% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Shymkent vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $403 per month, with Shymkent cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇰🇿 Shymkent

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

16:27 4:27 PM

05:27 5:27 AM

11 h behind Shymkent

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,222,055

974,447

💱 Currency

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇿 Kazakhstani Tenge (₸)

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 450 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to KZT in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Shymkent Austin, TX 11,840 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Shymkent
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 234% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1067% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $333 in Shymkent versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $56.9 in Shymkent versus $1,509 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $809 in Shymkent versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shymkent but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Shymkent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Shymkent and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 234% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.