Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Saryagash Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Saryagash

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $695 in Shymkent versus $731 in Saryagash.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,109 in Shymkent versus $1,160 in Saryagash.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,523 in Shymkent versus $1,590 in Saryagash.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 5% less than in Saryagash, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 48% lower, Saryagash 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 ₸4,630

$7.84 ₸3,672

26.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.76 ₸9,250

$27.62 ₸12.9K

-28.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 ₸3,140

$6.66 ₸3,116

0.75%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸867

$1.84 ₸860

0.54%

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

$0.95 ₸445

$0.93 ₸434

2.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸190

$0.49 ₸228

-16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸564

$1.14 ₸534

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₸881

$1.91 ₸894

-1.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₸518

$1.13 ₸530

-1.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸130

$0.38 ₸179

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸769

$1.41 ₸662

16.31%

Eggs

$1.50 ₸701

$1.57 ₸736

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 ₸3,846

$8.71 ₸4,077

-5.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 ₸2,063

$4.54 ₸2,127

-2.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.46 ₸3,023

$7.08 ₸3,313

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 ₸473

$1.33 ₸623

-24.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₸873

$1.95 ₸915

-4.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸889

$1.91 ₸895

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ₸457

$1.90 ₸891

-48.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.55 ₸259

-12.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸176

$0.40 ₸189

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₸398

$1.01 ₸471

-15.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₸317

$0.77 ₸360

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸925

$1.90 ₸887

4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.42 ₸2,070

$7.98 ₸3,733

-44.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₸468

$0.98 ₸457

2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸652

$1.53 ₸716

-9.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸67.5

$0.19 ₸90.6

-26.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₸397

$1.02 ₸476

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₸316

$0.63 ₸295

7.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 ₸2,769

$4.55 ₸2,131

30.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸233

$0.46 ₸215

8.70%

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

$19.6K ₸9.2M

$20.1K ₸9.4M

-2.41%

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

$23.9K ₸11.2M

$24.1K ₸11.3M

-0.63%

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

$51.1 ₸23.9K

$49.79 ₸23.3K

2.61%

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

$8.63 ₸4,038

$8.75 ₸4,094

-1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.46 ₸5,831

$12.96 ₸6,064

-3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.49 ₸15.7K

$32.82 ₸15.4K

2.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 ₸3,738

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 ₸2,230

$4.47 ₸2,092

6.49%

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

$49.76 ₸23.3K

$215 ₸100.4K

-76.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,888 ₸2.3M

$4,956 ₸2.3M

-1.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 ₸15.1K

$56.1 ₸26.3K

-42.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.02 ₸14.0K

$34.68 ₸16.2K

-13.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸56.2K

$88.7 ₸41.5K

35.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.14 ₸21.6K

$79.6 ₸37.2K

-42.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ₸141.1K

$309 ₸144.6K

-2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₸83.6K

$202 ₸94.7K

-11.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₸215.5K

$528 ₸247.3K

-12.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₸167.4K

$397 ₸186.0K

-10.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,061 ₸496.8K

$1,010 ₸472.9K

5.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$941 ₸440.5K

$795 ₸372.0K

18.43%

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 Saryagash: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $301 in Shymkent and $309 in Saryagash. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Shymkent vs $28 in Saryagash for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $172 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 Saryagash: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent and Saryagash differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($695 vs $731 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,042 in Shymkent and $1,096 in Saryagash 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: $301 in Shymkent versus $309 in Saryagash. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $49.76 in Shymkent versus $215 in Saryagash. 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 $28.00 in Saryagash. 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 Saryagash 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 5% less than in Saryagash. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.