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: $695 in Shymkent versus $800 in Taldykorgan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in Shymkent versus $1,032 in Taldykorgan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,472 in Shymkent versus $1,263 in Taldykorgan.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 13% less than in Taldykorgan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 48% lower, Taldykorgan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,638

$3.96 ₸1,934

139.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 ₸9,670

$19.48 ₸9,516

1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,407

$6.83 ₸3,334

2.05%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸903

$1.15 ₸564

60.87%

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

$1.02 ₸498

$0.38 ₸186

168.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸211

$0.30 ₸147

43.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸585

$0.82 ₸399

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₸929

$1.18 ₸577

61.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₸546

$1.12 ₸545

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸135

$0.38 ₸188

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ₸776

$1.36 ₸663

16.91%

Eggs

$1.46 ₸711

$1.19 ₸583

22.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,982

$9.68 ₸4,726

-15.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₸2,099

$4.52 ₸2,209

-4.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ₸3,173

$5.26 ₸2,567

23.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 ₸501

$1.41 ₸688

-26.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₸883

$1.98 ₸968

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₸914

$1.88 ₸919

-0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ₸482

$1.49 ₸730

-33.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ₸219

$0.58 ₸282

-22.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸169

$0.19 ₸90.5

84.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₸403

$1.01 ₸491

-18.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸309

$0.69 ₸335

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸971

$1.80 ₸880

10.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.15 ₸2,028

$7.44 ₸3,636

-44.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₸466

$0.88 ₸430

7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.91 ₸933

-29.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸61.9

$0.14 ₸67.5

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.39 ₸7,029

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₸451

$0.87 ₸424

5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸326

$0.64 ₸312

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 ₸2,937

$4.63 ₸2,262

29.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸246

$0.44 ₸217

13.64%

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

$19.2K ₸9.4M

$23.1K ₸11.3M

-16.68%

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

$23.9K ₸11.7M

$26.5K ₸12.9M

-9.74%

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

$50.3 ₸24.5K

$64.6 ₸31.5K

-22.17%

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

$8.79 ₸4,295

$8.59 ₸4,195

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.41 ₸6,063

$13.71 ₸6,697

-9.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₸16.1K

$33.80 ₸16.5K

-2.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₸3,751

$2.88 ₸1,404

166.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 ₸2,398

$2.40 ₸1,173

104.58%

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

$49.20 ₸24.0K

$261 ₸127.3K

-81.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,815 ₸2.4M

$4,864 ₸2.4M

-1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.19 ₸15.7K

$56.0 ₸27.3K

-42.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.03 ₸14.7K

$9.59 ₸4,683

213.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₸58.5K

$52.8 ₸25.8K

126.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.08 ₸22.5K

$52.7 ₸25.8K

-12.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 ₸150.4K

$481 ₸235.1K

-36.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸85.1K

$350 ₸171.0K

-50.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₸231.3K

$516 ₸252.1K

-8.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₸177.4K

$272 ₸133.0K

33.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,032 ₸503.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 ₸438.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 ₸201.0K

$357 ₸174.6K

15.17%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Taldykorgan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Shymkent and $481 in Taldykorgan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 15% 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 $149 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 15% in total monthly costs ($695 vs $800 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Shymkent pays 15% 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: $308 in Shymkent versus $481 in Taldykorgan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $49.20 in Shymkent versus $261 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 15% less than in Taldykorgan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.