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: $689 in Shymkent versus $552 in Taraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Shymkent versus $886 in Taraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,493 in Shymkent versus $1,220 in Taraz.

Living in Shymkent is roughly 25% more expensive than in Taraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 48% lower, Taraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.80 ₸4,779

$5.79 ₸2,825

69.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.26 ₸9,391

$19.90 ₸9,704

-3.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 ₸3,402

$5.71 ₸2,783

22.24%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₸868

$1.33 ₸650

33.83%

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

$0.96 ₸469

$0.75 ₸364

28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸198

$0.38 ₸185

7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸581

$1.16 ₸565

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₸902

$1.60 ₸782

15.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₸556

$0.96 ₸469

18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ₸148

$0.40 ₸196

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸796

$1.15 ₸562

41.74%

Eggs

$1.50 ₸732

$1.66 ₸812

-9.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 ₸3,972

$8.55 ₸4,170

-4.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₸2,035

$4.48 ₸2,186

-6.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 ₸3,037

$6.92 ₸3,374

-9.97%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 ₸483

$1.31 ₸637

-24.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸896

$1.87 ₸914

-1.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸924

$1.99 ₸970

-4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ₸476

$1.90 ₸926

-48.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ₸233

$0.60 ₸291

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸181

$0.38 ₸184

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 ₸389

$1.00 ₸487

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸335

$0.77 ₸377

-10.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸967

$2.00 ₸974

-1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.02 ₸1,958

$3.98 ₸1,942

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₸470

$0.99 ₸484

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₸683

$1.54 ₸749

-9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸61.4

$0.18 ₸89.6

-27.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₸424

$0.79 ₸386

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸302

$0.41 ₸200

51.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.74 ₸2,800

$3.59 ₸1,749

59.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸227

$0.46 ₸224

2.17%

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

$19.4K ₸9.5M

$19.8K ₸9.6M

-1.80%

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

$24.2K ₸11.8M

$21.3K ₸10.4M

13.52%

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

$50.2 ₸24.5K

$50.5 ₸24.6K

-0.65%

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

$8.70 ₸4,240

$8.04 ₸3,921

8.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.51 ₸6,097

$7.92 ₸3,862

57.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.20 ₸16.2K

$32.32 ₸15.8K

2.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.79 ₸3,798

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 ₸2,433

$3.98 ₸1,942

25.38%

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

$48.89 ₸23.8K

$215 ₸104.8K

-77.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,871 ₸2.4M

$4,815 ₸2.3M

1.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.57 ₸15.9K

$23.15 ₸11.3K

40.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ₸14.4K

$39.58 ₸19.3K

-25.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₸59.3K

$97.5 ₸47.5K

24.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.72 ₸22.8K

$57.5 ₸28.0K

-18.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₸147.7K

$238 ₸116.0K

27.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₸84.8K

$97.9 ₸47.7K

77.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ₸232.2K

$398 ₸193.8K

19.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ₸171.4K

$179 ₸87.0K

96.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,002 ₸488.3K

$789 ₸384.7K

26.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$896 ₸436.8K

$543 ₸264.9K

64.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$407 ₸198.4K

$253 ₸123.3K

60.91%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Taraz: June 15, 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 61% 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: $19.00 in Shymkent vs $20.00 in Taraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $161 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 25% in total monthly costs ($689 vs $552 including rent). Taraz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Shymkent, 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 $48.89 in Shymkent versus $215 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 $19.00 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 25% less than in Shymkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.