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: $679 in Shymkent versus $865 in Qapshaghay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Shymkent versus $1,292 in Qapshaghay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,503 in Shymkent versus $1,718 in Qapshaghay.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 22% less than in Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 49% lower, Qapshaghay 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,651

$7.97 ₸3,871

20.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 ₸9,553

$19.91 ₸9,671

-1.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₸3,289

$5.79 ₸2,812

16.93%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₸909

$1.57 ₸765

19.11%

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

$1.01 ₸489

$0.89 ₸433

13.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸212

$0.54 ₸262

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸562

$0.94 ₸456

23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₸928

$1.20 ₸583

59.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₸533

$1.32 ₸640

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.56 ₸271

-46.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₸764

$1.49 ₸726

5.37%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸700

$1.73 ₸842

-16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₸3,860

$9.34 ₸4,536

-14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,061

$4.53 ₸2,202

-6.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,158

$7.70 ₸3,742

-15.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 ₸488

$1.40 ₸678

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸892

$1.97 ₸958

-6.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸918

$1.96 ₸951

-3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₸497

$2.06 ₸1,001

-50.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸230

$0.59 ₸285

-20.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸183

$0.40 ₸194

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₸377

$1.25 ₸609

-37.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸310

$0.73 ₸356

-12.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 ₸927

$1.48 ₸720

29.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ₸1,929

$10.41 ₸5,055

-61.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸453

$0.90 ₸438

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸671

$2.14 ₸1,041

-35.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸77.5

$0.17 ₸80.9

-5.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸408

$0.70 ₸341

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸307

$0.63 ₸304

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₸2,871

$4.58 ₸2,225

29.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸222

$0.51 ₸249

-9.80%

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

$19.8K ₸9.6M

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-14.64%

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

$24.6K ₸11.9M

$27.1K ₸13.1M

-9.22%

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

$51.1 ₸24.8K

$63.6 ₸30.9K

-19.69%

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

$8.84 ₸4,294

$8.60 ₸4,178

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.49 ₸6,069

$13.69 ₸6,648

-8.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₸15.9K

$32.65 ₸15.9K

0.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ₸3,738

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₸2,308

$5.34 ₸2,594

-11.05%

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

$49.35 ₸24.0K

$261 ₸126.6K

-81.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,935 ₸2.4M

$4,803 ₸2.3M

2.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.43 ₸15.8K

$55.6 ₸27.0K

-41.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 ₸14.6K

$44.32 ₸21.5K

-32.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₸59.6K

$96.8 ₸47.0K

26.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.31 ₸22.5K

$122 ₸59.4K

-62.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸148.7K

$392 ₸190.3K

-21.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸86.1K

$271 ₸131.7K

-34.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₸228.5K

$642 ₸312.1K

-26.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸172.0K

$440 ₸214.0K

-19.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,040 ₸505.1K

$933 ₸453.4K

11.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 ₸442.3K

$850 ₸412.8K

7.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ₸194.6K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $306 in Shymkent and $392 in Qapshaghay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $20.00 in Qapshaghay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $188 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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent wins on cost – living expenses run 27% 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 $1,018 in Shymkent and $1,298 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: $306 in Shymkent versus $392 in Qapshaghay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $49.35 in Shymkent versus $261 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 $20.00 versus $20.00 in Qapshaghay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 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 27% less than in Qapshaghay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.