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: $671 in Shymkent versus $861 in Qapshaghay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Shymkent versus $1,266 in Qapshaghay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,512 in Shymkent versus $1,671 in Qapshaghay.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 50% lower, Qapshaghay 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 ₸4,630

$7.93 ₸3,711

24.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.76 ₸9,250

$19.36 ₸9,063

2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 ₸3,140

$5.71 ₸2,673

17.51%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸867

$1.58 ₸740

17.09%

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

$0.95 ₸445

$0.84 ₸392

13.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸190

$0.53 ₸248

-22.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸564

$0.94 ₸440

27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₸881

$1.14 ₸534

64.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₸518

$1.27 ₸595

-12.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸130

$0.54 ₸254

-48.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸769

$1.47 ₸688

11.56%

Eggs

$1.50 ₸701

$1.80 ₸843

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 ₸3,846

$9.46 ₸4,428

-13.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 ₸2,063

$4.72 ₸2,210

-6.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.46 ₸3,023

$7.57 ₸3,542

-14.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 ₸473

$1.38 ₸648

-26.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₸873

$1.97 ₸921

-5.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸889

$1.97 ₸924

-3.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ₸457

$2.08 ₸971

-52.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.61 ₸286

-21.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸176

$0.40 ₸186

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₸398

$1.31 ₸611

-35.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₸317

$0.75 ₸349

-9.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸925

$1.49 ₸699

32.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.42 ₸2,070

$8.87 ₸4,149

-50.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₸468

$0.85 ₸396

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸652

$2.08 ₸973

-33.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸67.5

$0.14 ₸67.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₸397

$0.76 ₸355

11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₸316

$0.67 ₸314

1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 ₸2,769

$4.66 ₸2,183

27.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸233

$0.48 ₸223

4.17%

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

$19.6K ₸9.2M

$23.6K ₸11.0M

-16.74%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$26.9K ₸12.6M

-11.07%

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

$51.1 ₸23.9K

$62.7 ₸29.3K

-18.50%

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

$8.63 ₸4,038

$8.81 ₸4,125

-2.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.46 ₸5,831

$13.75 ₸6,436

-9.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.49 ₸15.7K

$33.80 ₸15.8K

-0.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 ₸3,738

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 ₸2,230

$5.31 ₸2,486

-10.36%

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

$49.76 ₸23.3K

$260 ₸121.8K

-80.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,888 ₸2.3M

$4,887 ₸2.3M

0.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 ₸15.1K

$56.1 ₸26.2K

-42.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.02 ₸14.0K

$44.08 ₸20.6K

-31.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.2K

$97.5 ₸45.6K

23.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.14 ₸21.6K

$120 ₸56.2K

-61.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ₸141.1K

$385 ₸180.2K

-21.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₸83.6K

$271 ₸126.7K

-33.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₸215.5K

$644 ₸301.6K

-28.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₸167.4K

$432 ₸202.1K

-17.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,061 ₸496.8K

$1,050 ₸491.5K

1.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$941 ₸440.5K

$793 ₸371.3K

18.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$424 ₸198.3K

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 20, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Shymkent and $398 in Qapshaghay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Shymkent vs $20 in Qapshaghay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $185 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 28% 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 $1,006 in Shymkent and $1,291 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: $303 in Shymkent versus $398 in Qapshaghay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $48.85 in Shymkent versus $260 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 $19.00 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 28% less than in Qapshaghay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.