Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Petropavl Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Petropavl

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $695 in Shymkent versus $686 in Petropavl.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in Shymkent versus $1,117 in Petropavl.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,472 in Shymkent versus $1,548 in Petropavl.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 1% more expensive than Petropavl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 48% lower, Petropavl 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,638

$11.66 ₸5,695

-18.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 ₸9,670

$23.57 ₸11.5K

-15.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,407

$6.75 ₸3,295

3.26%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸903

$2.11 ₸1,031

-12.32%

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

$1.02 ₸498

$0.95 ₸466

7.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸211

$0.56 ₸272

-23.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸585

$1.34 ₸654

-10.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₸929

$2.43 ₸1,186

-21.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₸546

$0.74 ₸360

51.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸135

$0.43 ₸210

-34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ₸776

$1.84 ₸899

-13.59%

Eggs

$1.46 ₸711

$1.67 ₸817

-12.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,982

$9.32 ₸4,551

-12.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₸2,099

$5.31 ₸2,595

-19.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,173

$8.09 ₸3,953

-19.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 ₸501

$1.31 ₸638

-21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₸883

$1.99 ₸974

-9.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₸914

$1.82 ₸891

2.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ₸482

$1.94 ₸948

-48.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ₸219

$0.48 ₸233

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸169

$0.50 ₸246

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₸403

$0.61 ₸297

34.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸309

$0.81 ₸394

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸971

$2.12 ₸1,037

-6.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.15 ₸2,028

$9.99 ₸4,881

-58.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₸466

$0.84 ₸409

13.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.39 ₸680

-3.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸61.9

$0.23 ₸112

-43.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₸451

$0.61 ₸296

50.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸326

$0.39 ₸189

71.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 ₸2,937

$4.58 ₸2,239

31.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸246

$0.41 ₸201

21.95%

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

$19.2K ₸9.4M

$19.3K ₸9.4M

-0.07%

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

$23.9K ₸11.7M

$23.7K ₸11.6M

0.72%

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

$50.3 ₸24.5K

$50.7 ₸24.8K

-0.97%

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

$8.79 ₸4,295

$8.68 ₸4,240

1.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.41 ₸6,063

$12.89 ₸6,296

-3.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸16.1K

$19.20 ₸9,380

72.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₸3,751

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 ₸2,398

$3.98 ₸1,941

23.37%

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

$49.20 ₸24.0K

$208 ₸101.8K

-76.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,815 ₸2.4M

$4,802 ₸2.3M

0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.19 ₸15.7K

$29.79 ₸14.6K

8.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.03 ₸14.7K

$35.67 ₸17.4K

-15.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸58.5K

$39.68 ₸19.4K

202.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.08 ₸22.5K

$76.8 ₸37.5K

-39.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 ₸150.4K

$290 ₸141.7K

6.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸85.1K

$157 ₸76.4K

11.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₸231.3K

$516 ₸252.1K

-8.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₸177.4K

$397 ₸194.0K

-8.58%

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

$312 ₸152.1K

32.14%

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 Petropavl: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Shymkent and $290 in Petropavl. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 32% 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 $24.00 in Petropavl for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $182 per month, with Shymkent 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 Petropavl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petropavl wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Shymkent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Petropavl the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shymkent pays 32% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $308 in Shymkent versus $290 in Petropavl. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Shymkent pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $695 per month in Shymkent versus $686 in Petropavl – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Petropavl 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 Petropavl 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 Petropavl gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.