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: $923 in Taldykorgan versus $787 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,174 in Taldykorgan versus $1,351 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,425 in Taldykorgan versus $1,915 in Shymkent.

Living in Taldykorgan is roughly 17% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Taldykorgan 33% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 ₸2,018

$10.96 ₸5,011

-59.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.08 ₸10.1K

$33.61 ₸15.4K

-34.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 ₸4,043

$6.43 ₸2,938

37.64%

Cappuccino

$1.29 ₸588

$2.37 ₸1,085

-45.57%

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

$0.45 ₸205

$1.02 ₸464

-55.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₸144

$0.53 ₸243

-41.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.90 ₸413

$1.06 ₸483

-15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₸582

$1.28 ₸584

-0.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₸550

$1.44 ₸658

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₸181

$0.42 ₸192

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 ₸682

$1.76 ₸805

-15.34%

Eggs

$1.31 ₸599

$1.72 ₸785

-23.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 ₸5,375

$10.04 ₸4,587

17.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 ₸2,950

$5.11 ₸2,335

26.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 ₸2,779

$8.39 ₸3,834

-27.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ₸875

$1.15 ₸526

66.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,062

$2.07 ₸947

12.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 ₸1,321

$2.43 ₸1,112

18.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₸734

$1.22 ₸559

31.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₸322

$0.54 ₸247

29.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.20 ₸91.3

$0.42 ₸193

-52.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₸501

$0.92 ₸419

19.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸462

$0.80 ₸365

26.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 ₸884

$2.46 ₸1,124

-21.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₸3,735

$4.23 ₸1,933

93.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₸529

$1.02 ₸466

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₸1,003

$1.54 ₸705

42.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸67.0

$0.14 ₸64.6

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.39 ₸7,493

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸469

$0.85 ₸387

21.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸287

$0.36 ₸166

75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.79 ₸4,931

$9.46 ₸4,322

14.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₸253

$0.62 ₸284

-11.29%

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

$25.7K ₸11.8M

$26.7K ₸12.2M

-3.79%

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

$30.3K ₸13.8M

$29.1K ₸13.3M

3.96%

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

$89.5 ₸40.9K

$46.46 ₸21.2K

92.72%

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

$10.83 ₸4,948

$9.23 ₸4,218

17.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.60 ₸7,588

$14.61 ₸6,678

13.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.79 ₸17.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.24 ₸1,481

$8.77 ₸4,007

-63.06%

Cinema Ticket

$2.64 ₸1,207

$5.38 ₸2,460

-50.93%

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

$438 ₸200.1K

$57.3 ₸26.2K

663.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₸5.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.9 ₸41.6K

$36.49 ₸16.7K

149.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.83 ₸4,950

$33.13 ₸15.1K

-67.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 ₸26.4K

$185 ₸84.4K

-68.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₸26.5K

$50.5 ₸23.1K

14.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₸249.4K

$335 ₸152.9K

63.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸176.4K

$198 ₸90.5K

95.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,848 ₸844.8K

$675 ₸308.5K

173.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₸140.0K

$539 ₸246.3K

-43.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,081 ₸494.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$973 ₸444.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$384 ₸175.6K

$428 ₸195.7K

-10.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.57

18.25

12.71%

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

Last update for Taldykorgan: August 18, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $546 in Taldykorgan and $335 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shymkent pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Taldykorgan vs $34.00 in Shymkent. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $180, 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 17% in total monthly costs ($923 vs $787 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Shymkent. 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: $546 in Taldykorgan versus $335 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $438 in Taldykorgan versus $57.3 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 $34.00 versus $22.00 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 17% less than in Taldykorgan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.