Almaty vs Astana (Nur-Sultan): Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Astana (Nur-Sultan) costs roughly 17% less than Almaty. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Astana (Nur-Sultan) is approximately 41% less expensive than Almaty based on cost of living including rent. This makes Astana (Nur-Sultan) a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Astana (Nur-Sultan) has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Astana (Nur-Sultan) is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Kazakhstan
Low English proficiency and limited English-speaking doctors make daily life and healthcare navigation genuinely hard here. Budget-focused remote workers should push through anyway: a flat 10% income tax paired with $555/mo living costs (excluding rent) and $498/mo for a city-center 1BR is tough to beat. Political stability sits near zero and safety scores are middling, so this suits pragmatic savers over comfort-seekers.
$1,996/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Astana (Nur-Sultan)
Astana is a cheap, cold, and quietly competent capital that rewards people who can handle a real winter. A city center one-bedroom at $571/mo and a $17/mo transit pass make it one of the better value plays in the region, and an expat score of 83/100 backs that up. The catch is the local average net salary of $898/mo, which means most newcomers are earning elsewhere, and the arid climate plus an air quality index of 75 will not suit everyone. It is a strong digital nomad pick at 73/100, a weaker retiree one at 65/100.
About Kazakhstan
Low English proficiency and limited English-speaking doctors make daily life and healthcare navigation genuinely hard here. Budget-focused remote workers should push through anyway: a flat 10% income tax paired with $555/mo living costs (excluding rent) and $498/mo for a city-center 1BR is tough to beat. Political stability sits near zero and safety scores are middling, so this suits pragmatic savers over comfort-seekers.
$2,213/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Almaty | Astana (Nur-Sultan) |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $802.28 | $570.75 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $513.47 | $391.14 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1419.82 | $1136.9 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $917.03 | $769.05 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 85Mbps | 70Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Almaty | Astana (Nur-Sultan) |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,060/mo | $835/mo |
| Excluding rent | $547/mo | $444/mo |
| Rent | $513/mo | $391/mo |
| Groceries | $147/mo | $120/mo |
| Dining out | $134/mo | $110/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $124/mo | $101/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $120/mo | $96.00/mo |
| Transport | $22.00/mo | $17.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Almaty vs Astana (Nur-Sultan) -- Frequently Asked Questions
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