Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Oral Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Oral

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $675 per month in Shymkent vs $750 in Oral, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,087 per month in Shymkent vs $1,163 in Oral, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,499 per month in Shymkent vs $1,577 in Oral, rent included.

Shymkent is about 10% cheaper than Oral, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Shymkent and Oral are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 50% lower, Oral 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,392

$7.27 ₸3,360

30.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.72 ₸9,120

$30.64 ₸14.2K

-35.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,206

$7.29 ₸3,371

-4.94%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₸832

$1.70 ₸784

5.88%

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

$1.02 ₸471

$0.90 ₸415

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸189

$0.57 ₸261

-28.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸552

$0.81 ₸374

46.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸838

$1.80 ₸832

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸530

$1.24 ₸574

-7.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸129

$0.38 ₸174

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸759

$1.45 ₸673

13.10%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸666

$1.33 ₸615

8.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 ₸3,810

$7.86 ₸3,634

4.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸1,962

$3.90 ₸1,802

8.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ₸3,020

$9.73 ₸4,498

-32.89%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ₸435

$1.05 ₸485

-10.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₸827

$1.86 ₸862

-3.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸883

$2.01 ₸930

-4.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₸467

$2.95 ₸1,365

-65.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸218

$0.40 ₸185

17.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸162

$0.31 ₸144

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸364

$0.64 ₸295

23.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸294

$0.95 ₸441

-32.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 ₸889

$1.79 ₸830

7.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₸2,023

$7.48 ₸3,459

-41.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸466

$0.61 ₸283

65.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸644

$1.52 ₸702

-8.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.8

$0.22 ₸101

-31.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸389

$0.57 ₸265

47.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸312

$0.66 ₸306

1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 ₸2,696

$4.79 ₸2,216

21.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸229

$0.50 ₸231

-2.00%

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

$19.5K ₸9.0M

$19.7K ₸9.1M

-0.95%

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

$24.4K ₸11.3M

-0.20%

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

$50.1 ₸23.2K

$73.7 ₸34.1K

-32.02%

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

$8.52 ₸3,938

$7.93 ₸3,669

7.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.63 ₸5,838

$12.54 ₸5,797

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 ₸15.5K

$69.0 ₸31.9K

-51.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,579

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 ₸2,205

$2.96 ₸1,367

61.15%

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

$48.41 ₸22.4K

$208 ₸96.4K

-76.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,897 ₸2.3M

$4,923 ₸2.3M

-0.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.48 ₸15.0K

$29.77 ₸13.8K

9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 ₸14.1K

$35.77 ₸16.5K

-14.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸56.5K

$88.9 ₸41.1K

37.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.94 ₸21.7K

$77.7 ₸35.9K

-39.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸140.2K

$249 ₸115.0K

21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸81.6K

$187 ₸86.4K

-5.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₸212.6K

$394 ₸182.0K

16.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸163.9K

$273 ₸126.3K

29.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸504.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸442.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸202.0K

$429 ₸198.2K

1.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

18.39

6.04%

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

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Last update for Oral: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $303 in Shymkent versus $249 in Oral. 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 2% higher in Shymkent, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shymkent versus $31.00 in Oral. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $176 – 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 Oral: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Oral is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,013 per month in Shymkent and $1,125 in Oral. 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 $31.00 in Oral. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Oral, 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 $675 in Shymkent and $750 in Oral, 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, Oral makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.