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: $807 in Shymkent versus $730 in Pavlodar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in Shymkent versus $1,143 in Pavlodar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,959 in Shymkent versus $1,556 in Pavlodar.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 11% more expensive than in Pavlodar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 41% lower, Pavlodar 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₸5,038

$6.79 ₸3,043

65.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 ₸15.4K

$21.99 ₸9,858

56.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 ₸3,059

$8.83 ₸3,959

-22.76%

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₸1,111

$1.77 ₸794

40.11%

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

$1.05 ₸471

$1.19 ₸536

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸230

$0.51 ₸231

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₸508

$1.10 ₸495

2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸607

$1.44 ₸644

-6.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸640

$1.04 ₸468

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸185

$0.36 ₸163

13.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₸796

$1.32 ₸594

34.09%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸782

$1.60 ₸717

8.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 ₸4,626

$5.41 ₸2,428

90.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₸2,333

$4.69 ₸2,103

10.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₸3,835

$7.00 ₸3,138

22.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₸541

$1.43 ₸643

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₸987

$1.73 ₸777

27.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₸1,156

$1.77 ₸793

45.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₸617

$1.69 ₸759

-18.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸251

$0.91 ₸407

-38.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸180

$0.77 ₸343

-48.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₸404

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸360

$0.76 ₸341

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₸1,121

$2.50 ₸1,123

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 ₸1,947

$7.20 ₸3,227

-39.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₸483

$1.31 ₸586

-17.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸716

$2.20 ₸987

-27.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸69.9

$0.33 ₸150

-51.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₸410

$1.43 ₸642

-36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₸154

$1.14 ₸512

-70.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,289

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₸272

$0.66 ₸297

-7.58%

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

$25.9K ₸11.6M

15.03%

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

$46.74 ₸21.0K

$65.9 ₸29.5K

-29.04%

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

$9.58 ₸4,297

$11.31 ₸5,072

-15.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 ₸6,868

$26.32 ₸11.8K

-41.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.52 ₸17.7K

$32.07 ₸14.4K

23.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,109

$11.12 ₸4,986

-17.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ₸2,571

$4.57 ₸2,048

25.38%

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

$57.4 ₸25.7K

$136 ₸61.0K

-57.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,446 ₸2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.69 ₸16.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.90 ₸15.2K

$26.18 ₸11.7K

29.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$189 ₸84.7K

$76.5 ₸34.3K

146.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₸24.2K

$99.0 ₸44.4K

-45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₸155.4K

$275 ₸123.5K

25.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸92.1K

$226 ₸101.1K

-8.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₸315.7K

$561 ₸251.7K

25.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 ₸248.0K

$447 ₸200.3K

23.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 ₸502.0K

$1,112 ₸498.6K

0.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₸438.7K

$911 ₸408.5K

7.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₸202.7K

$727 ₸326.1K

-37.84%

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 Pavlodar: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Shymkent and $275 in Pavlodar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pavlodar pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Shymkent vs $22.00 in Pavlodar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $158 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 11% in total monthly costs ($807 vs $730 including rent). Pavlodar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 61% 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: $347 in Shymkent versus $275 in Pavlodar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Shymkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $807 per month in Shymkent versus $730 in Pavlodar – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pavlodar 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 Pavlodar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.