Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Chengdu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Chengdu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Shymkent vs $677 in Chengdu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,076 per month in Shymkent vs $1,074 in Chengdu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,473 per month in Shymkent vs $1,472 in Chengdu, rent included.

Shymkent and Chengdu have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ₸4,676

$2.82 ¥19.09

252.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.90 ₸9,368

$24.08 ¥163

-17.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 ₸3,292

$4.97 ¥33.66

40.64%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸869

$2.76 ¥18.71

-32.97%

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

$0.99 ₸467

$0.43 ¥2.92

130.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸192

$0.28 ¥1.88

46.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸543

$1.14 ¥7.70

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸900

$2.06 ¥13.97

-7.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸542

$1.81 ¥12.28

-36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸142

$1.39 ¥9.39

-78.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸768

$0.93 ¥6.31

75.27%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸677

$1.94 ¥13.10

-25.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₸3,730

$13.76 ¥93.2

-42.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸1,970

$3.61 ¥24.41

15.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 ₸3,047

$11.32 ¥76.6

-42.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 ₸451

$1.91 ¥12.94

-49.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 ₸838

$1.22 ¥8.28

45.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸898

$1.50 ¥10.18

27.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸481

$1.02 ¥6.90

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸224

$0.71 ¥4.81

-32.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸178

$0.70 ¥4.76

-45.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸373

$0.60 ¥4.09

31.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸323

$0.61 ¥4.16

13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸939

$3.40 ¥23.02

-41.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.33 ₸2,037

$5.50 ¥37.19

-21.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸444

$0.95 ¥6.42

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸628

$1.85 ¥12.53

-28.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.1

$0.43 ¥2.94

-67.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.94 ¥189

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₸419

$1.24 ¥8.38

-28.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸294

$0.28 ¥1.91

121.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 ₸2,729

$4.16 ¥28.15

39.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸234

$1.17 ¥7.95

-57.26%

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

$19.3K ₸9.1M

$18.5K ¥125.0K

4.62%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$16.7K ¥112.7K

43.43%

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

$50.4 ₸23.7K

$44.66 ¥302

12.94%

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

$8.64 ₸4,066

$11.53 ¥78.1

-25.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸5,991

$11.33 ¥76.7

12.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸15.6K

$24.18 ¥164

36.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,676

$11.55 ¥78.2

-32.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 ₸2,371

$5.69 ¥38.53

-11.42%

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

$48.24 ₸22.7K

$330 ¥2,232

-85.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,849 ₸2.3M

$12.3K ¥83.5K

-60.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.02 ₸15.5K

$37.54 ¥254

-12.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₸14.1K

$38.48 ¥260

-22.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.5K

$66.8 ¥452

79.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.86 ₸22.1K

$50.0 ¥339

-6.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₸139.9K

$320 ¥2,165

-7.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸81.8K

$183 ¥1,237

-4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₸223.6K

$611 ¥4,138

-22.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₸171.8K

$329 ¥2,224

11.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸489.3K

$3,785 ¥25.6K

-72.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 ₸440.4K

$1,925 ¥13.0K

-51.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$415 ₸195.5K

$1,278 ¥8,647

-67.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

4.21

363.18%

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

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Shymkent versus $320 in Chengdu. 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 208% higher in Chengdu. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shymkent versus $24.00 in Chengdu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $198 – 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 Chengdu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Shymkent and $1,015 in Chengdu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $48.24 per month in Shymkent and $330 in Chengdu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Shymkent – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $678 in Shymkent and $677 in Chengdu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Chengdu – 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 Chengdu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shymkent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.