Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Karaganda

🙂 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 13.5% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 9.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shymkent is 6.2% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.88 ₸5,053
$8.28 ₸4,235
19.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.57 ₸10K
$28.91 ₸14.8K
-32.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 ₸3,441
$4.77 ₸2,438
41.09%
Cappuccino
$1.86 ₸951
$1.83 ₸934
1.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₸487
$0.64 ₸326
48.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 ₸205
$0.46 ₸238
-13.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₸582
$0.94 ₸481
21.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₸976
$2.87 ₸1,467
-33.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₸570
$1 ₸512
12.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.28 ₸141
$0.44 ₸222
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₸830
$1.24 ₸635
30.65%
Eggs
$1.46 ₸745
$1.77 ₸906
-17.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 ₸4,233
$9.35 ₸4,781
-11.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.16 ₸2,126
$4.26 ₸2,178
-2.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.25 ₸3,194
$7.22 ₸3,692
-13.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 ₸522
$1.3 ₸667
-21.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₸947
$1.45 ₸739
27.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₸944
$1.93 ₸987
-4.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ₸525
$1.92 ₸984
-46.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸226
$0.6 ₸306
-26.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 ₸177
$0.4 ₸206
-12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 ₸429
$1 ₸509
-16.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₸330
$0.7 ₸356
-8.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 ₸1,011
$1.8 ₸920
10.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.86 ₸1,972
$6.14 ₸3,139
-37.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₸484
$1 ₸514
-5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₸687
$1.7 ₸868
-21.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ₸73.5
$0.21 ₸106
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.96 ₸6,115
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 ₸439
$1.81 ₸924
-52.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸326
$0.46 ₸236
39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 ₸3,056
$4.46 ₸2,281
34.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 ₸236
$0.48 ₸245
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ₸9.8M
$19.3K ₸9.9M
-0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K ₸12.6M
$25K ₸12.8M
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.26 ₸25.2K
$54.9 ₸28.1K
-10.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51 ₸4,352
$8.1 ₸4,140
5.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.82 ₸6,554
$13.07 ₸6,682
-1.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.14 ₸16.9K
$32.16 ₸16.4K
3.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73 ₸3,955
$11.69 ₸5,976
-33.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87 ₸2,490
$4.63 ₸2,368
5.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.39 ₸25.3K
$237 ₸121K
-79.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,780 ₸2.4M
$4,789 ₸2.4M
-0.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.53 ₸16.6K
$55.6 ₸28.4K
-41.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.51 ₸15.1K
$34.84 ₸17.8K
-15.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 ₸62.8K
$88.8 ₸45.4K
38.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.5 ₸23.3K
$86 ₸44K
-47.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$297 ₸152K
$329 ₸168.5K
-9.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₸89.4K
$212 ₸108.3K
-17.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₸244.3K
$580 ₸296.8K
-17.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ₸180.8K
$402 ₸205.5K
-12.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$927 ₸473.9K
$983 ₸502.8K
-5.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$827 ₸423.2K
$626 ₸320.1K
32.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$367 ₸187.6K
$434 ₸221.9K
-15.44%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Karaganda: October 29, 2025

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