Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Pavlodar Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Pavlodar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Shymkent versus $688 in Pavlodar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,076 in Shymkent versus $1,085 in Pavlodar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,473 in Shymkent versus $1,481 in Pavlodar.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 1% less than in Pavlodar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ₸4,669

$5.82 ₸2,736

70.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.90 ₸9,353

$19.20 ₸9,023

3.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 ₸3,287

$7.47 ₸3,511

-6.43%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸868

$1.62 ₸760

14.20%

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

$0.99 ₸467

$1.09 ₸513

-9.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸192

$0.45 ₸211

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸542

$0.86 ₸402

33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸898

$1.23 ₸578

55.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸541

$0.83 ₸390

38.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸142

$0.35 ₸166

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸767

$1.01 ₸476

61.39%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸676

$1.58 ₸741

-8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₸3,724

$4.83 ₸2,268

63.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₸1,967

$4.34 ₸2,038

-3.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 ₸3,042

$6.08 ₸2,860

6.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 ₸450

$1.29 ₸608

-25.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 ₸837

$1.58 ₸744

12.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸896

$1.92 ₸902

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸480

$1.53 ₸718

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸224

$0.80 ₸377

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸178

$0.69 ₸325

-44.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸373

$0.96 ₸449

-17.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸322

$0.76 ₸359

-9.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸937

$2.11 ₸989

-5.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.33 ₸2,034

$6.91 ₸3,250

-37.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₸443

$0.95 ₸446

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸627

$1.55 ₸729

-14.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.0

$0.21 ₸97.9

-33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₸418

$1.51 ₸707

-41.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸294

$0.76 ₸359

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 ₸2,724

$4.82 ₸2,267

20.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸234

$0.46 ₸215

8.70%

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

$19.3K ₸9.1M

$19.8K ₸9.3M

-2.31%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$18.7K ₸8.8M

27.63%

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

$50.4 ₸23.7K

$50.9 ₸23.9K

-0.98%

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

$8.64 ₸4,060

$10.01 ₸4,704

-13.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸5,981

$13.64 ₸6,412

-6.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸15.5K

$36.89 ₸17.3K

-10.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₸3,670

$9.73 ₸4,573

-19.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 ₸2,367

$5.49 ₸2,579

-8.20%

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

$48.24 ₸22.7K

$120 ₸56.2K

-59.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,849 ₸2.3M

$4,820 ₸2.3M

0.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.02 ₸15.5K

$56.6 ₸26.6K

-41.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₸14.0K

$29.42 ₸13.8K

1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.4K

$89.5 ₸42.1K

34.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.86 ₸22.0K

$79.2 ₸37.2K

-40.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₸139.7K

$246 ₸115.5K

20.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸81.7K

$193 ₸90.9K

-10.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₸223.2K

$490 ₸230.5K

-3.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₸171.5K

$383 ₸180.2K

-4.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸488.5K

$1,064 ₸500.0K

-2.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 ₸439.7K

$850 ₸399.6K

10.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$415 ₸195.2K

$671 ₸315.3K

-38.09%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Pavlodar: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $297 in Shymkent and $246 in Pavlodar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pavlodar pays 62% 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 $19.00 in Pavlodar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $146 per month, with Pavlodar 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 Pavlodar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent and Pavlodar differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($678 vs $688 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Pavlodar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $297 in Shymkent versus $246 in Pavlodar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pavlodar pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Shymkent versus $688 in Pavlodar – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Shymkent 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 Pavlodar 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 Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Pavlodar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.