Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Qapshaghay Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Qapshaghay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $807 in Shymkent versus $1,088 in Qapshaghay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in Shymkent versus $1,652 in Qapshaghay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,959 in Shymkent versus $2,215 in Qapshaghay.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 26% less than in Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 41% lower, Qapshaghay 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₸5,008

$11.03 ₸4,915

1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 ₸15.3K

$22.06 ₸9,831

56.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 ₸3,040

$6.58 ₸2,931

3.65%

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₸1,104

$1.81 ₸805

37.02%

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

$1.05 ₸469

$1.00 ₸444

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸229

$0.65 ₸291

-21.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₸505

$1.31 ₸583

-13.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₸604

$1.36 ₸605

-0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₸636

$1.69 ₸755

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸184

$0.44 ₸195

-6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₸791

$2.13 ₸950

-16.90%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸777

$2.49 ₸1,109

-30.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 ₸4,598

$12.29 ₸5,476

-16.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₸2,319

$6.86 ₸3,056

-24.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₸3,812

$10.99 ₸4,897

-22.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₸538

$1.89 ₸841

-35.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₸981

$2.39 ₸1,065

-7.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₸1,150

$3.05 ₸1,359

-15.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₸613

$2.80 ₸1,250

-50.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸250

$0.75 ₸334

-25.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸179

$0.55 ₸247

-27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₸401

$1.71 ₸761

-47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸358

$1.00 ₸448

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₸1,114

$1.60 ₸714

56.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 ₸1,935

$11.07 ₸4,934

-60.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₸480

$1.19 ₸532

-9.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₸712

$2.37 ₸1,057

-32.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸69.5

$0.18 ₸80.1

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.06 ₸7,158

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₸408

$0.88 ₸393

3.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₸154

$0.70 ₸310

-51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ₸4,264

$4.10 ₸1,827

133.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₸270

$0.57 ₸253

7.02%

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

$27.4K ₸12.2M

$22.4K ₸10.0M

22.15%

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

$29.8K ₸13.3M

$30.0K ₸13.4M

-0.73%

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

$46.74 ₸20.8K

$93.8 ₸41.8K

-50.19%

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

$9.58 ₸4,271

$10.79 ₸4,808

-11.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 ₸6,827

$17.49 ₸7,797

-12.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.52 ₸17.6K

$42.61 ₸19.0K

-7.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.16 ₸4,084

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ₸2,556

$6.85 ₸3,051

-16.35%

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

$57.4 ₸25.6K

$147 ₸65.7K

-61.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,413 ₸2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.69 ₸16.3K

$91.2 ₸40.6K

-59.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.90 ₸15.1K

$46.94 ₸20.9K

-27.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$189 ₸84.2K

$142 ₸63.4K

32.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₸24.0K

$135 ₸60.1K

-59.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₸154.5K

$455 ₸202.7K

-23.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸91.5K

$308 ₸137.4K

-33.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₸313.9K

$727 ₸323.9K

-3.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 ₸246.6K

$498 ₸221.8K

11.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 ₸499.0K

$1,061 ₸472.7K

5.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₸436.1K

$970 ₸432.4K

0.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₸201.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

20.61

-11.45%

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

Last update for Shymkent: September 13, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Shymkent and $455 in Qapshaghay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Shymkent vs $22.00 in Qapshaghay. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $249, with Shymkent cheaper for home cooking.

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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Qapshaghay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shymkent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,211 in Shymkent and $1,633 in Qapshaghay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Shymkent versus $455 in Qapshaghay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $57.4 in Shymkent versus $147 in Qapshaghay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $22.00 in Qapshaghay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $807 in Shymkent versus $1,088 in Qapshaghay, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shymkent but tight or insufficient in Qapshaghay. The gap between the two cities makes Shymkent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Qapshaghay 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 35% less than in Qapshaghay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.