Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Kostanay Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Kostanay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Shymkent vs $967 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Shymkent vs $1,401 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Shymkent vs $1,836 in Kostanay, rent included.

Shymkent is about 30% cheaper than Kostanay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shymkent and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Kostanay 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,664

$7.71 ₸3,758

24.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,579

$25.27 ₸12.3K

-22.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,298

$6.48 ₸3,157

4.48%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸912

$2.29 ₸1,114

-18.34%

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

$1.01 ₸490

$0.96 ₸467

5.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸213

$0.80 ₸391

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸563

$1.79 ₸874

-35.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸930

$3.34 ₸1,628

-42.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸534

$0.98 ₸478

12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.44 ₸215

-31.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸767

$1.16 ₸564

35.34%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸702

$1.78 ₸868

-19.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,871

$8.12 ₸3,955

-2.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,066

$5.26 ₸2,560

-19.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,166

$8.00 ₸3,898

-18.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸489

$1.25 ₸610

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸894

$2.00 ₸974

-8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸920

$1.30 ₸633

45.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸499

$1.31 ₸637

-22.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸231

$0.54 ₸263

-12.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸184

$0.24 ₸118

58.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸378

$0.94 ₸456

-17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸311

$0.92 ₸448

-30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸930

$2.20 ₸1,073

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,935

$7.80 ₸3,799

-49.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸454

$0.97 ₸470

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸673

$2.69 ₸1,309

-48.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸77.7

$0.30 ₸147

-46.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸409

$1.00 ₸487

-16.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸308

$1.07 ₸523

-41.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,879

$5.71 ₸2,780

3.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸222

$0.49 ₸239

-6.12%

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

$19.8K ₸9.7M

$28.9K ₸14.1M

-31.40%

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

$24.6K ₸12.0M

$26.9K ₸13.1M

-8.65%

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

$51.1 ₸24.9K

$72.4 ₸35.3K

-29.50%

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

$8.84 ₸4,306

$9.79 ₸4,769

-9.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,086

$11.18 ₸5,446

11.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸16.0K

$39.58 ₸19.3K

-17.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,748

$17.76 ₸8,653

-56.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,315

$3.79 ₸1,848

25.33%

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

$49.35 ₸24.0K

$183 ₸89.1K

-73.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$5,805 ₸2.8M

-14.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.8K

$105 ₸51.0K

-69.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.6K

$56.3 ₸27.4K

-46.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸59.7K

$116 ₸56.4K

5.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.6K

$101 ₸49.0K

-53.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸149.1K

$381 ₸185.4K

-19.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.4K

$328 ₸159.9K

-45.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸229.2K

$529 ₸257.7K

-11.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸172.4K

$427 ₸208.2K

-17.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸506.5K

$1,102 ₸537.0K

-5.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸443.6K

$864 ₸421.1K

5.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸195.1K

$605 ₸294.7K

-33.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

18.5

5.41%

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

Last update for Shymkent: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shymkent versus $381 in Kostanay. 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 51% higher in Kostanay, 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 $20.00 in Shymkent versus $25.00 in Kostanay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $173 – 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 Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostanay costs about 42% more than Shymkent, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Shymkent and $1,451 in Kostanay. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shymkent and $25.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Kostanay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Shymkent and $967 in Kostanay, 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, Kostanay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.