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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $807 per month in Shymkent vs $739 in Oral, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,383 per month in Shymkent vs $1,107 in Oral, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,959 per month in Shymkent vs $1,475 in Oral, rent included.

Shymkent costs about 9% more than Oral, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shymkent and Oral are more affordable than the global median – Shymkent 41% lower, Oral 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₸5,038

$8.55 ₸3,835

31.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 ₸15.4K

$34.83 ₸15.6K

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 ₸3,059

$8.59 ₸3,849

-20.61%

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₸1,111

$1.92 ₸861

29.17%

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

$1.05 ₸471

$1.02 ₸458

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸230

$0.64 ₸285

-20.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₸508

$0.86 ₸384

31.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸607

$1.96 ₸876

-31.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸640

$1.48 ₸663

-3.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸185

$0.46 ₸208

-10.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₸796

$1.70 ₸763

4.12%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸782

$1.54 ₸689

12.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 ₸4,626

$9.02 ₸4,046

14.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₸2,333

$4.39 ₸1,969

18.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₸3,835

$11.03 ₸4,945

-22.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₸541

$1.25 ₸562

-3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₸987

$2.01 ₸903

9.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₸1,156

$2.30 ₸1,031

12.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₸617

$3.44 ₸1,542

-59.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸251

$0.43 ₸193

30.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸180

$0.35 ₸158

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₸404

$0.67 ₸302

34.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸360

$1.10 ₸492

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₸1,121

$2.18 ₸979

14.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 ₸1,947

$7.76 ₸3,477

-44.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₸483

$0.65 ₸290

66.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸716

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸69.9

$0.21 ₸93.8

-23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₸410

$0.68 ₸306

33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₸154

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,289

$5.43 ₸2,436

76.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₸272

$0.60 ₸268

1.67%

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

$27.4K ₸12.3M

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

$29.8K ₸13.4M

$30.8K ₸13.8M

-3.24%

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

$46.74 ₸21.0K

$83.9 ₸37.6K

-44.31%

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

$9.58 ₸4,297

$8.80 ₸3,947

8.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 ₸6,868

$14.70 ₸6,591

4.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.52 ₸17.7K

$55.6 ₸24.9K

-28.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,109

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ₸2,571

$3.29 ₸1,474

74.16%

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

$57.4 ₸25.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.69 ₸16.4K

$33.89 ₸15.2K

8.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.90 ₸15.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$189 ₸84.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₸24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₸155.4K

$280 ₸125.6K

23.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸92.1K

$212 ₸95.0K

-3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₸315.7K

$454 ₸203.4K

55.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 ₸248.0K

$312 ₸139.9K

77.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 ₸502.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₸202.7K

$433 ₸194.0K

4.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

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

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Last update for Oral: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Shymkent versus $280 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 4% higher in Shymkent, 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 $34.00 in Shymkent versus $35.00 in Oral. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $196 – 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 – Shymkent is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,211 per month in Shymkent and $1,109 in Oral. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oral, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Shymkent – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shymkent and $35.00 in Oral. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $807 in Shymkent and $739 in Oral, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Oral – 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 Oral. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shymkent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.