Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Ekibastuz Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Ekibastuz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $710 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,122 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $1,534 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Shymkent is about 4% cheaper than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Ekibastuz 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,692

$8.54 ₸4,185

12.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,637

$29.46 ₸14.4K

-33.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,318

$5.82 ₸2,852

16.32%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸917

$1.40 ₸687

33.57%

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

$1.01 ₸493

$0.91 ₸446

10.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸214

$0.57 ₸278

-22.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸566

$1.15 ₸561

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸936

$2.88 ₸1,410

-33.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸537

$1.00 ₸492

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸149

$0.46 ₸224

-34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸771

$1.40 ₸687

12.14%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸706

$1.72 ₸845

-16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,894

$9.58 ₸4,694

-17.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,079

$4.70 ₸2,301

-9.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,185

$6.98 ₸3,420

-6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸492

$1.35 ₸663

-25.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸899

$1.81 ₸889

1.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸926

$1.99 ₸973

-5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸502

$1.91 ₸935

-46.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸232

$0.56 ₸274

-16.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸185

$0.41 ₸200

-7.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸381

$0.94 ₸458

-17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸312

$0.75 ₸369

-14.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸935

$1.88 ₸921

1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,946

$9.35 ₸4,583

-57.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸457

$1.02 ₸498

-8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸677

$1.70 ₸835

-18.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸78.2

$0.21 ₸103

-23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸411

$1.01 ₸493

-16.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸310

$0.68 ₸332

-7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,896

$4.32 ₸2,119

36.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸224

$0.38 ₸184

21.05%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$21.0K ₸10.3M

-5.50%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

-2.10%

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

$51.1 ₸25.0K

$53.3 ₸26.1K

-4.28%

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

$8.84 ₸4,332

$8.03 ₸3,935

10.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,123

$13.57 ₸6,650

-7.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.1K

$33.86 ₸16.6K

-3.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,771

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,329

$5.15 ₸2,525

-7.77%

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

$49.35 ₸24.2K

$241 ₸118.0K

-79.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$4,908 ₸2.4M

0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.9K

$56.2 ₸27.5K

-42.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.7K

$34.85 ₸17.1K

-13.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸60.1K

$88.4 ₸43.3K

38.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.7K

$86.1 ₸42.2K

-46.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸150.0K

$212 ₸103.7K

44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.9K

$160 ₸78.3K

11.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸230.6K

$394 ₸193.1K

19.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸173.5K

$301 ₸147.7K

17.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸509.6K

$1,037 ₸507.9K

0.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸446.2K

$782 ₸383.1K

16.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸196.3K

$309 ₸151.2K

29.82%

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 Ekibastuz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $212 in Ekibastuz. 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 30% higher in Shymkent, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shymkent versus $29.00 in Ekibastuz. 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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $679 in Shymkent, $710 in Ekibastuz – roughly 5% apart. Ekibastuz 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 $1,065 in Ekibastuz. 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 $710 in Ekibastuz. 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 $241 in Ekibastuz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Shymkent and $710 in Ekibastuz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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