Top expat cities

Kazakhstan

Shymkent

#5 Top 5 cities

Shymkent is often warmer and cheaper than the northern hubs, but international services and the expat ecosystem are much smaller.

Country overview

Population

1 200 000

Year-round temperatures

Day: 6°C až 35°C

Night: -2°C až 21°C

Climate

Warm to hot summers and milder winters than northern Kazakhstan.

Distance to the sea

1700 km

Social atmosphere

5/10

Costs

Housing cost 7/10
Food cost 7/10

Business friendliness

5/10

Safety

6/10

Shymkent is broadly safe in daily life, though markets, transport hubs, road traffic, scams, and occasional demonstrations require more caution than in the capital.

Natural disaster resilience

4/10

Shymkent faces meaningful earthquake risk, flash flooding after intense rain, heat waves, drought, dust, and occasional severe winter weather despite its milder southern climate.

Other scores

Other scores

Internet availability 6/10
Internet speed 6/10
Internet stability 6/10
Electricity stability 7/10

Community types

  • Small business owners
  • Couples
  • Long-term expats

Largest nationality groups

  • 🇷🇺Russians
  • 🇹🇷Turkish
  • 🇺🇿Uzbeks

Pros / Cons

Pros

  • +Lower living costs
  • +Affordable housing
  • +Pleasant atmosphere

Cons

  • −Smaller expat scene
  • −Fewer corporate opportunities
  • −Less dynamic environment