Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Taldykorgan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Taldykorgan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Shymkent versus $819 in Taldykorgan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Shymkent versus $1,054 in Taldykorgan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Shymkent versus $1,289 in Taldykorgan.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 18% less than in Taldykorgan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 50% lower, Taldykorgan 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,358

$3.86 ₸1,769

146.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.72 ₸9,049

$19.32 ₸8,863

2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,181

$6.98 ₸3,203

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₸825

$1.16 ₸530

55.17%

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

$1.02 ₸467

$0.41 ₸187

148.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸188

$0.30 ₸140

36.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸547

$0.75 ₸345

58.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸831

$1.20 ₸550

50.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸526

$1.12 ₸515

2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸128

$0.38 ₸175

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸753

$1.35 ₸617

21.48%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸661

$1.15 ₸529

25.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 ₸3,781

$9.50 ₸4,359

-13.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸1,947

$4.51 ₸2,068

-5.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ₸2,997

$5.37 ₸2,462

21.60%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ₸431

$1.40 ₸643

-32.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₸820

$1.88 ₸865

-4.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸876

$1.97 ₸902

-3.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₸464

$1.44 ₸661

-29.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸216

$0.63 ₸287

-25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸160

$0.17 ₸76.6

105.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸361

$1.00 ₸459

-21.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸291

$0.70 ₸322

-8.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 ₸882

$1.77 ₸814

8.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₸2,008

$8.12 ₸3,723

-46.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸462

$0.83 ₸381

21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸639

$1.93 ₸887

-27.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.3

$0.17 ₸77.8

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.62 ₸6,710

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸386

$0.90 ₸412

-6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸310

$0.64 ₸293

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 ₸2,675

$4.80 ₸2,202

21.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸227

$0.45 ₸205

8.89%

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

$19.5K ₸9.0M

$23.5K ₸10.8M

-17.07%

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

$24.4K ₸11.2M

$26.5K ₸12.2M

-8.06%

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

$50.1 ₸23.0K

$63.3 ₸29.1K

-20.86%

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

$8.52 ₸3,908

$8.82 ₸4,047

-3.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.63 ₸5,792

$13.49 ₸6,189

-6.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 ₸15.4K

$33.25 ₸15.3K

0.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,552

$2.91 ₸1,334

165.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 ₸2,188

$2.41 ₸1,104

97.93%

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

$48.41 ₸22.2K

$268 ₸122.9K

-81.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,897 ₸2.2M

$4,888 ₸2.2M

0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.48 ₸14.9K

$56.0 ₸25.7K

-41.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 ₸14.0K

$9.86 ₸4,524

209.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸56.1K

$53.6 ₸24.6K

128.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.94 ₸21.5K

$52.2 ₸23.9K

-10.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸139.1K

$486 ₸223.0K

-37.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸81.0K

$342 ₸156.9K

-48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₸211.0K

$517 ₸237.0K

-10.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸162.6K

$278 ₸127.5K

27.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸500.7K

$1,141 ₸523.7K

-4.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸438.7K

$740 ₸339.4K

29.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸200.4K

$387 ₸177.4K

13.00%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Taldykorgan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Shymkent and $486 in Taldykorgan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $19.00 in Taldykorgan. Groceries flip the comparison at $150 vs $164, 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 Taldykorgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent and Taldykorgan differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($675 vs $819 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Shymkent pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Shymkent versus $486 in Taldykorgan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $48.41 in Shymkent versus $268 in Taldykorgan. 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 $19.00 in Taldykorgan. 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 Taldykorgan 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 21% less than in Taldykorgan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.