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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 9.9% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 8.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shymkent is 1.4% more expensive than Karaganda without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.80 ₸4,890
$8.28 ₸4,134
18.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.33 ₸9,647
$29.23 ₸14.6K
-33.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 ₸3,434
$4.84 ₸2,417
42.15%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₸924
$1.90 ₸948
-2.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₸478
$0.66 ₸329
45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₸218
$0.50 ₸250
-12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 ₸575
$0.97 ₸483
18.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₸903
$2.86 ₸1,425
-36.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₸558
$0.99 ₸496
13.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₸150
$0.46 ₸230
-34.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₸808
$1.29 ₸646
25.58%
Eggs
$1.50 ₸748
$1.78 ₸886
-15.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 ₸4,098
$9.29 ₸4,636
-11.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.34 ₸2,168
$4.28 ₸2,136
1.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.28 ₸3,132
$6.92 ₸3,452
-9.25%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 ₸468
$1.32 ₸657
-28.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₸921
$1.50 ₸748
22.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸945
$1.97 ₸983
-4.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 ₸493
$1.98 ₸988
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸221
$0.55 ₸275
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 ₸172
$0.41 ₸203
-17.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₸385
$0.98 ₸491
-21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₸314
$0.71 ₸354
-11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 ₸979
$1.79 ₸895
9.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.08 ₸2,037
$7.70 ₸3,842
-47.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₸479
$1.01 ₸506
-4.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₸675
$1.71 ₸852
-21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 ₸64.9
$0.19 ₸95.2
-31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.57 ₸5,771
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₸447
$1.72 ₸856
-47.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸341
$0.46 ₸228
47.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 ₸2,910
$4.52 ₸2,255
28.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 ₸247
$0.48 ₸241
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ₸9.9M
$19.0K ₸9.5M
4.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K ₸12.1M
$25.0K ₸12.5M
-2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.40 ₸24.6K
$53.0 ₸26.4K
-6.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.72 ₸4,350
$8.03 ₸4,005
8.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.54 ₸6,255
$12.83 ₸6,401
-2.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.89 ₸16.9K
$32.76 ₸16.3K
3.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 ₸3,835
$11.94 ₸5,956
-35.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 ₸2,485
$4.56 ₸2,277
9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.41 ₸24.7K
$242 ₸120.8K
-79.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,849 ₸2.4M
$4,777 ₸2.4M
1.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.90 ₸16.4K
$56.3 ₸28.1K
-41.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.59 ₸14.8K
$35.87 ₸17.9K
-17.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₸59.6K
$88.5 ₸44.1K
35.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.41 ₸23.2K
$84.3 ₸42.0K
-44.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸151.4K
$335 ₸167.3K
-9.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 ₸86.3K
$208 ₸103.7K
-16.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 ₸232.9K
$583 ₸290.9K
-19.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ₸180.3K
$399 ₸199.1K
-9.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$998 ₸497.8K
$950 ₸474.1K
5.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$897 ₸447.5K
$653 ₸325.8K
37.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$403 ₸200.9K
$502 ₸250.5K
-19.79%
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: February 28, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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