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: $675 in Shymkent versus $685 in Petropavl.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Shymkent versus $1,132 in Petropavl.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Shymkent versus $1,580 in Petropavl.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 1% less than in Petropavl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 50% lower, Petropavl 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,358

$11.93 ₸5,474

-20.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.72 ₸9,049

$23.61 ₸10.8K

-16.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,181

$6.72 ₸3,085

3.12%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₸825

$2.16 ₸991

-16.67%

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

$1.02 ₸467

$1.00 ₸461

2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸188

$0.53 ₸242

-22.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸547

$1.33 ₸611

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸831

$2.47 ₸1,132

-26.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸526

$0.76 ₸349

51.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸128

$0.47 ₸215

-40.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸753

$1.82 ₸835

-9.89%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸661

$1.60 ₸734

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 ₸3,781

$9.37 ₸4,298

-12.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸1,947

$5.35 ₸2,453

-20.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ₸2,997

$8.08 ₸3,706

-19.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ₸431

$1.25 ₸572

-24.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₸820

$1.99 ₸912

-10.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸876

$1.81 ₸828

5.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₸464

$1.96 ₸899

-48.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸216

$0.48 ₸220

-2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸160

$0.48 ₸219

-27.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸361

$0.57 ₸260

38.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸291

$0.82 ₸375

-21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 ₸882

$2.06 ₸944

-6.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₸2,008

$10.49 ₸4,813

-58.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸462

$0.91 ₸419

10.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸639

$1.33 ₸610

4.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.3

$0.23 ₸106

-34.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸386

$0.57 ₸261

47.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸310

$0.38 ₸175

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 ₸2,675

$4.62 ₸2,122

26.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸227

$0.42 ₸193

16.67%

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

$19.5K ₸9.0M

$19.6K ₸9.0M

-0.32%

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

$24.4K ₸11.2M

$23.4K ₸10.8M

3.93%

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

$50.1 ₸23.0K

$50.2 ₸23.0K

-0.24%

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

$8.52 ₸3,908

$8.60 ₸3,945

-0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.63 ₸5,792

$12.69 ₸5,820

-0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 ₸15.4K

$19.64 ₸9,011

70.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,552

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 ₸2,188

$3.85 ₸1,765

23.90%

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

$48.41 ₸22.2K

$212 ₸97.4K

-77.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,897 ₸2.2M

$4,875 ₸2.2M

0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.48 ₸14.9K

$29.48 ₸13.5K

10.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 ₸14.0K

$35.01 ₸16.1K

-12.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸56.1K

$38.41 ₸17.6K

218.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.94 ₸21.5K

$79.7 ₸36.5K

-41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸139.1K

$296 ₸135.6K

2.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸81.0K

$158 ₸72.6K

11.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₸211.0K

$519 ₸238.1K

-11.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸162.6K

$385 ₸176.5K

-7.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸500.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸200.4K

$326 ₸149.5K

34.11%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Petropavl: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Shymkent and $296 in Petropavl. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $24.00 in Petropavl for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $183 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

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

Shymkent pays 34% 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: $303 in Shymkent versus $296 in Petropavl. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Petropavl. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $675 per month in Shymkent versus $685 in Petropavl – 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 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 Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Petropavl. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.