Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Taraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Taraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Shymkent versus $562 in Taraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Shymkent versus $884 in Taraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Shymkent versus $1,206 in Taraz.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 20% more expensive than Taraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 50% lower, Taraz 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.50 ₸4,392

$5.98 ₸2,767

58.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.72 ₸9,120

$19.50 ₸9,017

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,206

$5.80 ₸2,683

19.48%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₸832

$1.35 ₸622

33.33%

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

$1.02 ₸471

$0.76 ₸351

34.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸189

$0.37 ₸172

10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸552

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₸838

$1.60 ₸739

13.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸530

$1.00 ₸461

15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ₸129

$0.38 ₸175

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸759

$1.14 ₸526

43.86%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸666

$1.75 ₸809

-17.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 ₸3,810

$8.89 ₸4,112

-7.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸1,962

$4.57 ₸2,112

-7.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ₸3,020

$7.03 ₸3,249

-7.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ₸435

$1.30 ₸601

-27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₸827

$1.98 ₸914

-9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₸883

$1.99 ₸918

-4.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₸467

$1.95 ₸900

-48.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₸218

$0.55 ₸256

-14.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸162

$0.37 ₸172

-5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₸364

$0.92 ₸427

-14.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸294

$0.71 ₸331

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 ₸889

$1.93 ₸891

-0.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₸2,023

$4.46 ₸2,064

-1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸466

$0.93 ₸428

8.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₸644

$1.58 ₸729

-12.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸70.8

$0.18 ₸83.7

-16.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₸389

$0.77 ₸354

9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸312

$0.41 ₸190

63.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 ₸2,696

$3.44 ₸1,592

69.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸229

$0.42 ₸195

16.67%

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

$19.5K ₸9.0M

$19.8K ₸9.2M

-1.36%

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

$24.4K ₸11.3M

$21.9K ₸10.1M

11.41%

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

$50.1 ₸23.2K

$49.21 ₸22.8K

1.85%

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

$8.52 ₸3,938

$7.61 ₸3,520

11.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.63 ₸5,838

$7.73 ₸3,574

63.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 ₸15.5K

$31.95 ₸14.8K

4.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₸3,579

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 ₸2,205

$3.83 ₸1,770

24.54%

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

$48.41 ₸22.4K

$214 ₸98.9K

-77.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,897 ₸2.3M

$4,924 ₸2.3M

-0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.48 ₸15.0K

$23.66 ₸10.9K

37.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 ₸14.1K

$39.83 ₸18.4K

-23.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸56.5K

$98.9 ₸45.7K

23.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.94 ₸21.7K

$57.9 ₸26.8K

-18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸140.2K

$238 ₸110.1K

27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₸81.6K

$97.7 ₸45.2K

80.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₸212.6K

$385 ₸178.1K

19.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₸163.9K

$172 ₸79.7K

105.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 ₸504.6K

$834 ₸385.5K

30.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 ₸442.1K

$592 ₸273.6K

61.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 ₸202.0K

$277 ₸128.2K

57.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

16.25

20.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Last update for Taraz: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Shymkent and $238 in Taraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Shymkent vs $20.00 in Taraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $163 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 Taraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent and Taraz differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($675 vs $562 including rent). Taraz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Shymkent pays 58% 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 $238 in Taraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $48.41 in Shymkent versus $214 in Taraz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Taraz 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 Taraz 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 Taraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.