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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shymkent is 5.6% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shymkent is 9.1% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 8.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.81 ₸4,608
$8.56 ₸4,022
14.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.23 ₸9,036
$28.92 ₸13.6K
-33.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 ₸3,233
$4.91 ₸2,306
40.12%
Cappuccino
$1.80 ₸846
$1.85 ₸870
-2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₸482
$0.69 ₸323
49.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₸191
$0.50 ₸235
-18.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₸556
$0.99 ₸466
19.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₸882
$2.86 ₸1,344
-34.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ₸540
$0.97 ₸454
18.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₸142
$0.44 ₸206
-31.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 ₸738
$1.31 ₸615
19.85%
Eggs
$1.50 ₸707
$1.75 ₸823
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 ₸3,707
$9.14 ₸4,296
-13.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 ₸2,069
$4.09 ₸1,920
7.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.44 ₸3,029
$7.23 ₸3,398
-10.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 ₸483
$1.36 ₸641
-24.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ₸880
$1.48 ₸696
26.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸890
$1.96 ₸922
-3.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ₸482
$1.98 ₸932
-47.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₸209
$0.56 ₸262
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 ₸163
$0.41 ₸191
-14.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₸363
$1.00 ₸468
-23.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₸315
$0.72 ₸336
-6.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ₸893
$1.72 ₸807
10.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.31 ₸2,026
$7.87 ₸3,701
-45.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₸480
$0.94 ₸440
8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₸637
$1.67 ₸785
-19.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ₸64.9
$0.19 ₸88.6
-26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.78 ₸5,535
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₸421
$1.74 ₸817
-48.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸319
$0.42 ₸198
61.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 ₸2,767
$4.51 ₸2,118
30.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 ₸237
$0.44 ₸208
13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ₸9.2M
$19.1K ₸9.0M
3.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ₸11.5M
$24.8K ₸11.6M
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.67 ₸23.3K
$54.6 ₸25.7K
-9.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.62 ₸4,051
$8.32 ₸3,912
3.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.89 ₸6,058
$13.11 ₸6,163
-1.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.59 ₸15.8K
$32.78 ₸15.4K
2.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.91 ₸3,716
$11.64 ₸5,472
-32.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 ₸2,324
$4.63 ₸2,176
6.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.85 ₸23.0K
$236 ₸111.0K
-79.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,896 ₸2.3M
$4,834 ₸2.3M
1.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.15 ₸15.6K
$55.5 ₸26.1K
-40.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12 ₸14.2K
$35.84 ₸16.8K
-15.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₸55.6K
$88.6 ₸41.6K
33.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 ₸22.1K
$86.1 ₸40.5K
-45.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₸142.2K
$334 ₸156.8K
-9.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₸84.3K
$213 ₸100.1K
-15.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ₸219.2K
$574 ₸269.9K
-18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 ₸170.1K
$402 ₸189.0K
-9.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,035 ₸486.4K
$975 ₸458.4K
6.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$944 ₸443.7K
$673 ₸316.5K
40.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shymkent
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$413 ₸194.0K
$533 ₸250.3K
-22.49%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: April 11, 2026

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

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