Cost of living in Kazakhstan in 2026

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026 · Updated 7 October 2026

A single person in Almaty needs about $1,000-1,500 a month including rent, and about the same in Astana. Groceries, transport and mobile service in Kazakhstan are cheaper than in Moscow, while renting a flat takes the most money.

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Key facts	2026
Single budget with rent in Almaty	$1,000-1,500 a month
Couple budget	$1,500-2,200 a month
Family with a child	from $2,500 a month
One-bedroom flat in central Almaty	$450-750
Minimum wage 2026	85,000 tenge a month, ~$187
Work for Russian citizens	no work permit under Eurasian Union rules

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Kazakhstan is one of the most affordable countries for a move from Russia: no visa is needed, you can work without a permit, Russian is spoken in the cities, and state schools also teach in Russian. Groceries, taxis, mobile service and utilities are cheaper than in Moscow and St Petersburg, and internet is fast and inexpensive.

Rent is the main expense. After 2022, when tens of thousands of people from Russia moved to Almaty and Astana, rates rose sharply and have stayed high since, especially in new residential complexes. A one-bedroom flat in a good district of Almaty costs $450-750 a month, and in winter heating bills are added.

Below are 2026 prices in US dollars at the National Bank of Kazakhstan rate on the date checked, a monthly budget for a single person, a couple and a family, first-month costs and ways to save.

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Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport

Monthly item	Almaty	Astana
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$450-750	$510-770
One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district	$250-400	$375-510
Two-bedroom flat in the centre	$700-1,200	$730-1,210
Utilities	$60-110	$60-150
Internet and mobile	$15-25	$15-25
Groceries per person	$250-350	$250-350
Public transport	$15-25	$12-20
Lunch in an inexpensive café	$6-10	$6-10
Private doctor visit	$25-50	$25-50
Private health insurance	$30-80	$30-80
International school, per year	$19,000-43,000	$19,000-43,000

Rents are for a furnished flat on a long-term lease, which is how most flats in Almaty and Astana are let. In Almaty's Medeu and Bostandyk districts and in Astana's new riverside complexes rates exceed the upper bound.

Utilities are higher in winter: Astana sees frosts down to minus 30, and heating in older buildings costs more than in new ones.

Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child

Household	Per month
Single person	$1,000-1,500
Couple	$1,500-2,200
Family with a child	from $2,500

The single budget assumes a one-bedroom flat in Almaty, groceries, phone, transport and taxis, and moderate spending on cafés. For a family the total depends on the district, school and kindergarten, so we calculate the exact figure in the chat.

A Kazakhstan budget starts with the paperwork of the first days

A Russian citizen needs neither a visa nor a work permit in Kazakhstan, but without an individual identification number you cannot open an account, get a phone contract or rent a flat with a contract, and staying beyond 90 days in 180 requires a residence permit. Common mistakes are renting without registering your place of stay and losing time in queues for a points-based residence permit. We obtain the number and account, choose the residence ground, and help with the lease, registration and enrolling a child in school.

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What to pay in the first month

An individual identification number: without it you cannot open an account, get a SIM card or sign a lease.
Registration of your place of stay: in a rented flat the landlord files it through the public services portal.
The first month's rent and a deposit; the tenant often pays the agent's fee of up to one month's rent.
An account and card with a Kazakh bank: Russian cards do not work here.
A local SIM card: bank and public service codes are sent to the number.

For the first three months a single person in Almaty needs from $4,000 including rent, the deposit, the agent's fee and documents.

Where to live: comparing cities

Almaty is the country's largest city: mountains half an hour away, the best restaurants and international schools, a large Russian-speaking community and jobs in tech and finance. Medeu and Bostandyk districts are the most expensive, Almaly and Auezov cheaper. In winter the city can have smog.

Astana is the capital, with new residential complexes, government bodies and the International Financial Centre. Rents in new buildings are comparable to Almaty, and winters are cold, with frosts down to minus 30 and strong winds.

Shymkent, Karaganda and Oskemen are much cheaper, with a one-bedroom flat at $250-400, but there are fewer international schools and tech jobs.

Districts and prices in detail: Almaty, Astana.

Healthcare and insurance

Citizens and permanent residents of Kazakhstan receive care through mandatory health insurance: the employee pays 2% of salary and the employer another 3%. Russian citizens working under an employment contract are also in this system; others use private clinics.

A private clinic visit costs $25-50, and private insurance for an adult about $30-80 a month depending on cover.

Schools and nurseries

State schools are free and teach in Kazakh or Russian, so children from Russia study in Russian-language classes without a language barrier. At state kindergartens parents pay only for meals, about $30 a month, but big cities have queues, so many choose private ones from $120 a month in Astana and $150 in Almaty.

English-language international schools in Almaty and Astana cost $19,000-29,000 a year for the first grade and up to $43,000 in the senior years; private Kazakh schools charge $7,400-14,000. Places at the best ones are sought in advance.

Salaries and taxes

The minimum wage in 2026 is 85,000 tenge a month, about $187. Average salaries in Almaty and Astana are much higher than elsewhere in the country, especially in tech, finance and mining.

Since 2026 income tax is progressive: 10% on annual income up to 36,762,500 tenge, about $80,900, and 15% above that. Another 10% pension contribution and 2% for health insurance are withheld from salary.

How to cut costs

Rent long-term directly from the owner, without an agent.
Use public transport and app taxis: a ride across town costs $2-5.
Buy groceries at markets and local chains rather than import shops.
Choose a state school with Russian-language classes instead of an international one.
Pay with a Kazakh bank card: no conversion fees and with cashback.

The main savings are the district and the school. A flat outside central Almaty costs $200-350 a month less than in Medeu district, and a state school with Russian classes saves a family $7,400-43,000 a year.

This topic in other countries

Cost of living in other countries:

FAQ

How much money do you need to live in Kazakhstan?

A single person needs $1,000-1,500 a month in Almaty including rent, a couple $1,500-2,200. Shymkent and Karaganda cost less. Budget from $4,000 for the first three months in Almaty.

How much is rent in Almaty?

A one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $450-750 a month, on the outskirts $250-400. Most flats are let furnished.

Is it cheaper to live in Almaty or Astana?

Almost the same: rents in Astana's new complexes are comparable to Almaty, but heating bills are higher in Astana in winter. Groceries and transport cost about the same.

What is the minimum wage in Kazakhstan in 2026?

85,000 tenge a month, about $187. The monthly calculation index in 2026 is 4,325 tenge.

Can a Russian citizen work in Kazakhstan without a permit?

Yes. Under Eurasian Union rules Russian citizens work in Kazakhstan under an employment contract without a work permit.

How much does an international school cost in Kazakhstan?

$19,000-43,000 a year in Almaty and Astana, with private Kazakh schools from $7,400. State schools are free and have Russian-language classes.

How much are utilities in Kazakhstan?

About $60-110 a month in Almaty and up to $150 in winter in Astana for a one-bedroom flat, plus $15-25 for internet and mobile.

Is healthcare free in Kazakhstan for foreigners?

Russian citizens working under an employment contract are part of mandatory health insurance. Others pay $25-50 per private clinic visit or buy insurance at $30-80 a month.

How long can you live in Kazakhstan without a residence permit?

A Russian citizen may stay in Kazakhstan for up to 90 days within 180. Longer stays require a residence permit or a temporary residence permit for work.

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