Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Semey Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Semey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $683 in Shymkent versus $686 in Semey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Shymkent versus $1,092 in Semey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,519 in Shymkent versus $1,498 in Semey.

Monthly costs are close between Shymkent and Semey; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 49% lower, Semey 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₸4,585

$4.39 ₸2,080

120.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.73 ₸9,355

$27.29 ₸12.9K

-27.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ₸3,162

$4.89 ₸2,317

36.40%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₸857

$1.58 ₸748

14.56%

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

$1.01 ₸480

$0.92 ₸437

9.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₸190

$0.56 ₸265

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸568

$1.20 ₸569

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₸871

$1.83 ₸866

0.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₸526

$0.68 ₸320

63.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸133

$0.32 ₸150

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ₸752

$1.60 ₸757

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.50 ₸711

$1.35 ₸640

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 ₸3,902

$8.84 ₸4,190

-6.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 ₸2,014

$4.72 ₸2,238

-9.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.54 ₸3,100

$7.24 ₸3,431

-9.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 ₸486

$1.28 ₸608

-20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸870

$1.96 ₸931

-6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 ₸871

$1.98 ₸938

-7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ₸466

$1.97 ₸933

-50.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ₸212

$0.59 ₸280

-23.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸177

$0.38 ₸179

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₸402

$0.94 ₸445

-9.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₸323

$0.77 ₸366

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸932

$2.57 ₸1,216

-23.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.24 ₸2,008

$6.82 ₸3,235

-37.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸470

$0.92 ₸437

7.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₸662

$1.58 ₸749

-11.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸64.5

$0.21 ₸99.8

-33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₸426

$0.94 ₸448

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸317

$0.63 ₸299

6.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 ₸2,854

$4.79 ₸2,272

25.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸220

$0.50 ₸236

-8.00%

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

$19.5K ₸9.2M

$19.8K ₸9.4M

-1.49%

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

$24.1K ₸11.4M

$24.6K ₸11.7M

-2.20%

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

$49.50 ₸23.5K

$50.8 ₸24.1K

-2.46%

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

$8.69 ₸4,118

$8.86 ₸4,200

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.73 ₸6,036

$12.85 ₸6,091

-0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.88 ₸16.1K

$33.68 ₸16.0K

0.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ₸3,684

$10.02 ₸4,750

-22.46%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₸2,293

$4.36 ₸2,066

11.01%

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

$49.04 ₸23.2K

$212 ₸100.4K

-76.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,801 ₸2.3M

$4,962 ₸2.4M

-3.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.07 ₸15.7K

$57.2 ₸27.1K

-42.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.22 ₸14.3K

$35.47 ₸16.8K

-14.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸57.9K

$88.3 ₸41.9K

38.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.77 ₸21.7K

$77.0 ₸36.5K

-40.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ₸142.9K

$309 ₸146.3K

-2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸83.4K

$202 ₸95.8K

-12.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₸221.7K

$529 ₸250.7K

-11.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₸169.5K

$384 ₸182.1K

-6.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₸492.5K

$1,036 ₸491.0K

0.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$954 ₸452.2K

$893 ₸423.1K

6.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 ₸200.1K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Semey: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $27.00 in Semey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $166 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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $1,025 in Shymkent and $1,029 in Semey 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 Semey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $27.00 in Semey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Childcare runs $49.04 in Shymkent versus $212 in Semey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 Semey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Shymkent wins on affordability, Semey on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.