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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $776 per month in Shymkent vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,352 per month in Shymkent vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,928 per month in Shymkent vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Shymkent is about 16% cheaper than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shymkent and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 43% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₸4,907

$9.55 ₸4,352

12.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.49 ₸14.8K

$34.35 ₸15.6K

-5.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ₸3,020

$5.28 ₸2,406

25.57%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₸1,091

$1.93 ₸881

23.83%

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

$1.02 ₸466

$0.90 ₸410

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸242

$0.59 ₸269

-10.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₸480

$1.33 ₸607

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸607

$2.90 ₸1,321

-54.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₸666

$1.24 ₸566

17.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₸193

$0.44 ₸200

-4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ₸783

$1.24 ₸565

38.71%

Eggs

$1.63 ₸741

$1.75 ₸799

-6.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 ₸4,670

$12.90 ₸5,876

-20.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 ₸2,343

$5.44 ₸2,477

-5.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.80 ₸4,009

$10.80 ₸4,922

-18.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 ₸538

$1.50 ₸682

-21.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ₸954

$1.93 ₸880

8.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₸1,139

$2.76 ₸1,257

-9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ₸614

$2.06 ₸938

-34.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₸244

$0.65 ₸296

-18.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸181

$0.53 ₸242

-24.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₸392

$1.00 ₸458

-14.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸380

$0.71 ₸325

16.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₸1,121

$2.19 ₸998

12.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.36 ₸1,987

$7.93 ₸3,613

-45.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₸476

$1.32 ₸600

-21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸703

$2.06 ₸938

-25.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸60.1

$0.21 ₸95.4

-38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.94 ₸6,805

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₸377

$1.22 ₸554

-31.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ₸166

$1.21 ₸553

-69.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.78 ₸4,457

$3.27 ₸1,488

199.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 ₸267

$0.54 ₸247

9.26%

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

$26.9K ₸12.2M

$21.5K ₸9.8M

25.14%

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

$29.0K ₸13.2M

$31.0K ₸14.1M

-6.26%

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

$46.53 ₸21.2K

$71.2 ₸32.4K

-34.64%

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

$9.10 ₸4,144

$9.80 ₸4,464

-7.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.64 ₸6,671

$11.80 ₸5,374

24.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₸17.6K

$44.26 ₸20.2K

-12.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,920

$18.14 ₸8,265

-52.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₸2,461

$5.18 ₸2,361

4.25%

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

$56.5 ₸25.7K

$129 ₸58.6K

-56.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.70 ₸16.3K

$58.8 ₸26.8K

-39.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.12 ₸15.1K

$58.0 ₸26.4K

-42.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ₸82.9K

$75.2 ₸34.2K

142.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 ₸23.7K

$85.9 ₸39.1K

-39.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸151.8K

$392 ₸178.3K

-14.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₸91.9K

$269 ₸122.6K

-25.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₸315.7K

$709 ₸323.1K

-2.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 ₸250.6K

$533 ₸242.7K

3.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 ₸489.6K

$1,027 ₸467.7K

4.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 ₸443.6K

$706 ₸321.7K

37.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 ₸196.9K

$565 ₸257.4K

-23.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

19.25

-5.19%

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

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Shymkent versus $392 in Karaganda. 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 31% higher in Karaganda, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Shymkent versus $34.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $210 – 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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $776 in Shymkent, $921 in Karaganda – roughly 19% apart. Karaganda costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Shymkent and $1,381 in Karaganda. 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 $776 in Shymkent and $921 in Karaganda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $56.5 per month in Shymkent and $129 in Karaganda. 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 $776 in Shymkent and $921 in Karaganda, 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, Karaganda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.