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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Shymkent vs $954 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,076 per month in Shymkent vs $1,384 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,473 per month in Shymkent vs $1,813 in Kostanay, rent included.

Shymkent is about 29% cheaper than Kostanay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shymkent and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 49% lower, Kostanay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ₸4,669

$7.62 ₸3,583

30.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.90 ₸9,353

$24.91 ₸11.7K

-20.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 ₸3,287

$6.33 ₸2,973

10.43%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸868

$2.30 ₸1,082

-19.57%

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

$0.99 ₸467

$1.03 ₸483

-3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸192

$0.80 ₸377

-48.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸542

$1.72 ₸810

-33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸898

$3.26 ₸1,531

-41.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸541

$0.95 ₸448

21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸142

$0.44 ₸206

-31.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸767

$1.16 ₸545

40.52%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸676

$1.78 ₸835

-19.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₸3,724

$7.70 ₸3,618

2.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸1,967

$5.26 ₸2,473

-20.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 ₸3,042

$8.36 ₸3,930

-22.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 ₸450

$1.30 ₸611

-26.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 ₸837

$1.91 ₸899

-6.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸896

$1.30 ₸612

46.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸480

$1.29 ₸607

-20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸224

$0.58 ₸275

-17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸178

$0.24 ₸113

58.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸373

$0.96 ₸451

-17.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸322

$0.87 ₸408

-20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸937

$2.21 ₸1,037

-9.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.33 ₸2,034

$7.84 ₸3,683

-44.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸443

$1.01 ₸474

-6.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸627

$2.72 ₸1,278

-51.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.0

$0.28 ₸131

-50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₸418

$1.02 ₸479

-12.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸294

$1.06 ₸497

-41.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 ₸2,724

$5.76 ₸2,706

0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸234

$0.49 ₸231

2.04%

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

$19.3K ₸9.1M

$29.7K ₸14.0M

-34.92%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$26.1K ₸12.3M

-8.61%

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

$50.4 ₸23.7K

$72.6 ₸34.1K

-30.55%

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

$8.64 ₸4,060

$9.65 ₸4,537

-10.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸5,981

$10.88 ₸5,112

17.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸15.5K

$39.74 ₸18.7K

-16.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,670

$17.31 ₸8,134

-54.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 ₸2,367

$3.71 ₸1,743

35.85%

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

$48.24 ₸22.7K

$186 ₸87.3K

-74.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,849 ₸2.3M

$5,680 ₸2.7M

-14.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.02 ₸15.5K

$105 ₸49.2K

-68.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₸14.0K

$56.3 ₸26.5K

-46.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.4K

$114 ₸53.6K

5.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.86 ₸22.0K

$102 ₸48.1K

-54.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₸139.7K

$385 ₸180.8K

-22.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸81.7K

$330 ₸155.2K

-47.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₸223.2K

$529 ₸248.8K

-10.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₸171.5K

$425 ₸199.7K

-14.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸488.5K

$1,137 ₸534.4K

-8.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 ₸439.7K

$899 ₸422.8K

4.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$415 ₸195.2K

$626 ₸294.4K

-33.68%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Shymkent versus $385 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: $149 vs $172 – 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 41% 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 $1,432 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 16% 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 $678 in Shymkent and $954 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.