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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Taldykorgan is roughly 21% more expensive than Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.86 ₸1,769

$9.50 ₸4,358

-59.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.32 ₸8,863

$19.72 ₸9,049

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 ₸3,203

$6.93 ₸3,181

0.72%

Cappuccino

$1.16 ₸530

$1.80 ₸825

-35.56%

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

$0.41 ₸187

$1.02 ₸467

-59.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₸140

$0.41 ₸188

-26.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 ₸345

$1.19 ₸547

-36.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₸550

$1.81 ₸831

-33.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₸515

$1.15 ₸526

-2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸175

$0.28 ₸128

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ₸617

$1.64 ₸753

-17.68%

Eggs

$1.15 ₸529

$1.44 ₸661

-20.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 ₸4,359

$8.24 ₸3,781

15.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 ₸2,068

$4.24 ₸1,947

6.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.37 ₸2,462

$6.53 ₸2,997

-17.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 ₸643

$0.94 ₸431

48.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 ₸865

$1.79 ₸820

5.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₸902

$1.91 ₸876

3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ₸661

$1.01 ₸464

42.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸287

$0.47 ₸216

34.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.17 ₸76.6

$0.35 ₸160

-51.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₸459

$0.79 ₸361

26.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸322

$0.64 ₸291

9.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 ₸814

$1.92 ₸882

-7.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₸3,723

$4.38 ₸2,008

85.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸381

$1.01 ₸462

-17.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₸887

$1.39 ₸639

38.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₸77.8

$0.15 ₸70.3

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.62 ₸6,710

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₸412

$0.84 ₸386

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸293

$0.67 ₸310

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,202

$5.83 ₸2,675

-17.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 ₸205

$0.49 ₸227

-8.16%

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

$23.5K ₸10.8M

$19.5K ₸9.0M

20.58%

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

$26.5K ₸12.2M

$24.4K ₸11.2M

8.76%

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

$63.3 ₸29.1K

$50.1 ₸23.0K

26.36%

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

$8.82 ₸4,047

$8.52 ₸3,908

3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.49 ₸6,189

$12.63 ₸5,792

6.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.25 ₸15.3K

$33.54 ₸15.4K

-0.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.91 ₸1,334

$7.74 ₸3,552

-62.40%

Cinema Ticket

$2.41 ₸1,104

$4.77 ₸2,188

-49.48%

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

$268 ₸122.9K

$48.41 ₸22.2K

453.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,888 ₸2.2M

$4,897 ₸2.2M

-0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 ₸25.7K

$32.48 ₸14.9K

72.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.86 ₸4,524

$30.48 ₸14.0K

-67.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 ₸24.6K

$122 ₸56.1K

-56.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 ₸23.9K

$46.94 ₸21.5K

11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₸223.0K

$303 ₸139.1K

60.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 ₸156.9K

$176 ₸81.0K

93.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 ₸237.0K

$460 ₸211.0K

12.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 ₸127.5K

$354 ₸162.6K

-21.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₸523.7K

$1,091 ₸500.7K

4.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 ₸339.4K

$956 ₸438.7K

-22.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 ₸177.4K

$437 ₸200.4K

-11.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

19.5

-5.69%

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

Last update for Taldykorgan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Taldykorgan and $303 in Shymkent. 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: $19.00 in Taldykorgan vs $20.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $150, 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

Taldykorgan vs Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Shymkent earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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

Childcare runs $268 in Taldykorgan versus $48.41 in Shymkent. 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, Taldykorgan and Shymkent 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.