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: $683 in Shymkent versus $629 in Kyzylorda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Shymkent versus $962 in Kyzylorda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,519 in Shymkent versus $1,295 in Kyzylorda.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 9% more expensive than in Kyzylorda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 49% lower, Kyzylorda 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₸4,585

$8.15 ₸3,866

18.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.73 ₸9,355

$28.88 ₸13.7K

-31.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ₸3,162

$6.64 ₸3,146

0.45%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₸857

$1.99 ₸943

-9.05%

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

$1.01 ₸480

$1.19 ₸566

-15.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₸190

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸568

$2.12 ₸1,004

-43.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₸871

$2.98 ₸1,413

-38.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₸526

$1.17 ₸556

-5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸133

$0.21 ₸99.4

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ₸752

$0.90 ₸427

76.67%

Eggs

$1.50 ₸711

$1.23 ₸583

21.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 ₸3,902

$8.86 ₸4,202

-7.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 ₸2,014

$1.75 ₸827

142.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.54 ₸3,100

$4.09 ₸1,939

59.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 ₸486

$1.18 ₸561

-13.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸870

$1.84 ₸874

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 ₸871

$1.76 ₸837

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ₸466

$2.26 ₸1,072

-56.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ₸212

$1.16 ₸549

-61.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸177

$0.58 ₸277

-36.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₸402

$1.18 ₸560

-27.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₸323

$0.81 ₸383

-16.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸932

$2.12 ₸1,007

-7.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.24 ₸2,008

$2.27 ₸1,077

86.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸470

$1.06 ₸503

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₸662

$1.68 ₸798

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.5

$0.20 ₸96.8

-30.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₸426

$0.71 ₸335

26.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸317

$0.63 ₸299

6.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 ₸2,854

$4.71 ₸2,233

27.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸220

$0.40 ₸189

15.00%

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

$19.5K ₸9.2M

$25.5K ₸12.1M

-23.65%

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

$24.1K ₸11.4M

$27.5K ₸13.0M

-12.44%

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

$49.50 ₸23.5K

$65.2 ₸30.9K

-24.03%

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

$8.69 ₸4,118

$7.78 ₸3,689

11.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸6,036

$13.67 ₸6,479

-6.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.88 ₸16.1K

$28.88 ₸13.7K

17.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ₸3,684

$15.47 ₸7,333

-49.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₸2,293

$5.34 ₸2,533

-9.36%

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

$49.04 ₸23.2K

$211 ₸100.2K

-76.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,801 ₸2.3M

$4,896 ₸2.3M

-1.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.07 ₸15.7K

$38.78 ₸18.4K

-14.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.22 ₸14.3K

$48.34 ₸22.9K

-37.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸57.9K

$47.18 ₸22.4K

158.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.77 ₸21.7K

$58.5 ₸27.7K

-21.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ₸142.9K

$168 ₸79.8K

79.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸83.4K

$136 ₸64.3K

29.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₸221.7K

$254 ₸120.6K

83.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₸169.5K

$198 ₸93.7K

81.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸492.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$954 ₸452.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 ₸200.1K

$314 ₸149.0K

34.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

-15.22%

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

Last update for Shymkent: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kyzylorda: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $301 in Shymkent and $168 in Kyzylorda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 34% 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: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $29.00 in Kyzylorda. Groceries flip the comparison at $150 vs $138, with Kyzylorda cheaper for home cooking.

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 9% 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 34% 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: $301 in Shymkent versus $168 in Kyzylorda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $49.04 in Shymkent versus $211 in Kyzylorda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kyzylorda – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $20.00 in Shymkent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 9% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.