Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Kyzylorda Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Kyzylorda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $807 in Shymkent versus $655 in Kyzylorda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in Shymkent versus $1,041 in Kyzylorda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,959 in Shymkent versus $1,427 in Kyzylorda.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 23% more expensive than in Kyzylorda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 41% lower, Kyzylorda 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₸5,020

$9.43 ₸4,212

19.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 ₸15.4K

$33.34 ₸14.9K

3.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 ₸3,048

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₸1,107

$2.40 ₸1,071

3.33%

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

$1.05 ₸470

$1.35 ₸605

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸229

$0.44 ₸195

15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₸506

$2.49 ₸1,113

-54.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸605

$3.41 ₸1,525

-60.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸638

$1.36 ₸607

5.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸184

$0.24 ₸107

70.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₸793

$1.00 ₸445

77.00%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸779

$1.36 ₸607

27.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 ₸4,610

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₸2,325

$2.04 ₸911

154.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₸3,821

$4.77 ₸2,133

79.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₸539

$1.40 ₸626

-13.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₸984

$2.14 ₸954

2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₸1,152

$2.03 ₸909

27.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₸615

$2.57 ₸1,148

-46.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸250

$1.32 ₸589

-57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸180

$0.68 ₸303

-41.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₸402

$1.30 ₸582

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸359

$0.96 ₸427

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₸1,117

$2.42 ₸1,080

3.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 ₸1,940

$2.44 ₸1,091

77.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₸481

$1.24 ₸556

-12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸714

$1.93 ₸861

-17.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸69.7

$0.21 ₸95.7

-23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₸409

$0.91 ₸405

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₸154

$0.76 ₸341

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,274

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₸271

$0.58 ₸261

5.17%

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

$27.4K ₸12.2M

$28.6K ₸12.8M

-4.25%

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

$29.8K ₸13.3M

$31.0K ₸13.9M

-4.04%

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

$46.74 ₸20.9K

$75.2 ₸33.6K

-37.87%

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

$9.58 ₸4,282

$9.11 ₸4,069

5.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 ₸6,844

$15.56 ₸6,952

-1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.52 ₸17.7K

$33.01 ₸14.7K

19.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,094

$17.82 ₸7,960

-48.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ₸2,562

$6.12 ₸2,734

-6.37%

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

$57.4 ₸25.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.69 ₸16.4K

$44.49 ₸19.9K

-17.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.90 ₸15.1K

$55.8 ₸24.9K

-39.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$189 ₸84.4K

$53.0 ₸23.7K

256.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₸24.1K

$67.8 ₸30.3K

-20.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₸154.9K

$190 ₸84.7K

82.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸91.8K

$157 ₸70.1K

30.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₸314.6K

$296 ₸132.4K

137.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 ₸247.2K

$222 ₸99.3K

148.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 ₸500.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₸437.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₸202.0K

$330 ₸147.3K

37.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-20.65%

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

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kyzylorda: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Shymkent and $190 in Kyzylorda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Shymkent vs $33.00 in Kyzylorda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $128 per month, with Kyzylorda cheaper across the board.

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 Kyzylorda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kyzylorda wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Shymkent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kyzylorda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Shymkent, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Shymkent versus $190 in Kyzylorda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $807 per month in Shymkent versus $655 in Kyzylorda – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Shymkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kyzylorda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Shymkent and Kyzylorda are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kyzylorda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.