RelocostRelocost
Back home

Country

Kazakhstan

3 cities in the catalog

Updated 29.06.2026 · Source: Numbeo

The easiest relocation for Russian citizens — no visa, the Russian language, and working international cards. Almaty and Astana are the IT centres.

Cost of living in Kazakhstan in 2026

Real prices from the Relocost database: medians across every city of the country in our catalog. All amounts are in Russian rubles at today's rate.

HouseholdBudgetComfortable
One person53 020 ₽72 328 ₽
Couple, no kids72 508 ₽98 913 ₽
Family with a child94 884 ₽129 437 ₽

What the budget consists of

ExpenseCountry median
Аренда 1-комн. на окраине28 500 ₽
Продукты на месяц17 000 ₽
Проездной на транспорт1 600 ₽
ЖКХ, интернет и связь5 920 ₽

Cost of living by city in Kazakhstan

City1-bedroom rentMonth, one person
Актау22 000 ₽42 800 ₽
Астана28 500 ₽53 020 ₽
Алматы45 000 ₽71 700 ₽
How we calculate these numbers

The budget figure covers a one-bedroom apartment outside the center, monthly groceries, a monthly transit pass and utilities with internet and mobile. For every line we take the median across the country's cities in our database: a median is more robust than an average and is not skewed by a single expensive megacity. Categories are aggregated independently, so a city missing transit data does not drag down the other lines. The comfortable budget uses central-district rent plus 40% on top of other expenses. Couple and family budgets are derived from the base one: food and transport scale with the number of people, housing for a family with a child is 40% higher. Prices refresh daily.

Cities in Kazakhstan

About the country

Climate

Sharply continental: cold winters and hot summers. Almaty is milder thanks to the mountains, Astana harsher.

Mentality

A multi-ethnic country with a warm attitude towards Russians, especially in the cities. A well-developed Russian-language media environment.

🌍 Полный обзор страны

Особенности жизни, менталитет, лучшие места и практические советы — в одном материале.

Pros & cons

Pros and cons

Strengths

  • безвизовый режим и простой въезд
  • русский язык в обиходе
  • низкие налоги для ИП
  • близость и прямое сообщение с РФ

What to consider

  • резко континентальный климат
  • загрязнение воздуха в мегаполисах
  • слабее медицина в регионах
  • девальвация местной валюты

Overall difficulty of moving

An average score across all cities of the country — from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard).

1/5
Our verdict

Is it worth going?

Strengths

  • Visa-free or simplified entry for Russians
  • Wide choice of cities to relocate to
  • Affordable cities with a low cost of living

What to consider

  • Challenging climate in some regions

Who is it for

For freelancers and remote workersFor budget-conscious movers

Kazakhstan is one of the most accessible destinations for relocating from Russia.

True Size

How big is Kazakhstan?

RussiaKazakhstan

Kazakhstan is 2,724,900 km² — the 9th largest country in the world, 6× smaller than Russia.

Area Kazakhstan2,724,900 km²
Area Russia17,098,246 km²
Russia is larger by
Share of Russia1/6

Size isn’t everything — small countries often offer the best quality of life.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Kazakhstan

Do you need a visa for Kazakhstan in 2026?
Visa-free for 90 days. Registration is done through eGov. A sole proprietorship can be set up in a day; residence permits are available via employment, business or family.
What is the climate like in Kazakhstan?
Sharply continental: cold winters and hot summers. Almaty is milder thanks to the mountains, Astana harsher.
What language do people speak in Kazakhstan?
Kazakh is the official language. Russian is the official language of inter-ethnic communication and is used everywhere in daily life.
What is the mentality like in Kazakhstan?
A multi-ethnic country with a warm attitude towards Russians, especially in the cities. A well-developed Russian-language media environment.
Переезд по шагам

Виза, ВНЖ и налоги — Kazakhstan

Главное для переезда: как въехать, как остаться надолго и сколько платить налогов. Правила меняются — перед поездкой сверяйтесь с официальными источниками.

Виза и въезд

Visa-free for 90 days. Registration is done through eGov. A sole proprietorship can be set up in a day; residence permits are available via employment, business or family.

ВНЖ и легализация

ВНЖ через работу, бизнес или воссоединение семьи; натурализация ориентировочно после 5 лет постоянного проживания. Уточняйте актуальные правила.

Налоги

Плоский подоходный налог около 10%, для ИП есть упрощенные режимы с пониженной ставкой. По состоянию на 2026, уточняйте актуальные правила.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about moving to Kazakhstan

How much does it cost to live in Kazakhstan?
The cost of living in Kazakhstan varies by city. Our catalog covers 3 destinations with real prices for rent, groceries, transport and utilities.
Which is the cheapest city in Kazakhstan?
According to Relocost data, the most affordable city in Kazakhstan is Актау with a minimum monthly budget from 22 000 RUB. Compare all cities in our catalog.
Do I need a residency permit or visa to live in Kazakhstan?
Residency requirements for Kazakhstan are explained on each city's page in the 'Visa & documents' section. Always verify current rules with official sources.
Which city in Kazakhstan is the safest?
Each city page in Kazakhstan has a relocation-difficulty rating covering visa, language barrier, prices and infrastructure. Use it to compare options.
How do I choose the right city in Kazakhstan to move to?
Use Relocost's budget calculator and search filters: set your budget, climate preferences and visa requirements — and get matching options from 3 cities in Kazakhstan.
Полезное

Relocation articles · Kazakhstan

Смотрите также

Открывается сразу после оплаты