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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $695 per month in Shymkent vs $767 in Oral, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,083 per month in Shymkent vs $1,155 in Oral, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,472 per month in Shymkent vs $1,543 in Oral, rent included.

Shymkent is about 9% cheaper than Oral, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Shymkent and Oral are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 48% lower, Oral 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,638

$7.27 ₸3,552

30.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 ₸9,670

$30.07 ₸14.7K

-34.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,407

$7.32 ₸3,574

-4.78%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸903

$1.64 ₸800

12.80%

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

$1.02 ₸498

$0.85 ₸416

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸211

$0.51 ₸251

-15.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸585

$0.81 ₸393

48.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₸929

$1.73 ₸845

9.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₸546

$1.30 ₸634

-13.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸135

$0.40 ₸197

-30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ₸776

$1.44 ₸705

10.42%

Eggs

$1.46 ₸711

$1.35 ₸659

8.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,982

$7.72 ₸3,772

5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₸2,099

$3.81 ₸1,861

12.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,173

$9.84 ₸4,806

-33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 ₸501

$1.06 ₸518

-2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₸883

$1.80 ₸877

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₸914

$2.03 ₸989

-7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ₸482

$2.94 ₸1,437

-66.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ₸219

$0.37 ₸183

21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸169

$0.31 ₸152

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₸403

$0.63 ₸306

30.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸309

$1.01 ₸494

-37.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸971

$1.88 ₸918

5.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.15 ₸2,028

$7.08 ₸3,460

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₸466

$0.58 ₸283

63.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.59 ₸778

-15.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸61.9

$0.22 ₸106

-40.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₸451

$0.61 ₸296

50.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸326

$0.64 ₸310

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 ₸2,937

$4.58 ₸2,239

31.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸246

$0.50 ₸244

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

$19.2K ₸9.4M

$20.1K ₸9.8M

-4.11%

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

$23.9K ₸11.7M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

-2.86%

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

$50.3 ₸24.5K

$72.6 ₸35.5K

-30.82%

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

$8.79 ₸4,295

$8.00 ₸3,906

9.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.41 ₸6,063

$12.60 ₸6,153

-1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸16.1K

$69.2 ₸33.8K

-52.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₸3,751

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 ₸2,398

$2.95 ₸1,440

66.44%

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

$49.20 ₸24.0K

$209 ₸101.9K

-76.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,815 ₸2.4M

$4,870 ₸2.4M

-1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.19 ₸15.7K

$29.20 ₸14.3K

10.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.03 ₸14.7K

$34.88 ₸17.0K

-13.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸58.5K

$89.9 ₸43.9K

33.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.08 ₸22.5K

$76.8 ₸37.5K

-40.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 ₸150.4K

$252 ₸123.1K

22.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸85.1K

$186 ₸90.8K

-6.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₸231.3K

$402 ₸196.4K

17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₸177.4K

$273 ₸133.3K

33.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,032 ₸503.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 ₸201.0K

$398 ₸194.3K

3.49%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Oral: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $308 in Shymkent versus $252 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 3% 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 $30.00 in Oral. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $175 – 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 10%, 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 $1,042 per month in Shymkent and $1,151 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 $30.00 in Oral. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $695 in Shymkent and $767 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.