Wondering how far your salary goes in Astana? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Furnished 1-bed, left bank (near the boulevard)KZT 250,000-450,000 / mo (US$470-850)
Furnished 1-bed, right bank (old town)KZT 150,000-280,000 / mo (US$280-530)
Dinner for two, mid-range restaurantKZT 15,000-32,000 (US$28-60)
Lunch at a stolovaya or food courtKZT 2,000-3,500 (US$4-7)
LRT rideKZT 200 (about US$0.38); buses around KZT 180 with a Tulpar card
Unlimited mobile data, monthlyKZT 4,000-7,000 (US$7.50-13)
Serious winter outerwear (bought locally)KZT 80,000-250,000 — a genuine one-off arrival cost
Est. single-person monthly (excl. rent)US$550-800
Good to know
Population
~1.5 million and growing fast; Kazakhstan's capital since 1997
Languages
Kazakh (state language) and Russian; English is the working language inside the AIFC
Currency
Kazakhstani tenge (KZT); roughly KZT 500-540 = US$1 in 2026
Time zone
GMT+5 — Kazakhstan moved to a single nationwide time zone on 1 March 2024
Power plug
Type C/F (European 2-pin), 220V/50Hz
Climate
Extreme continental: January averages around -14°C with -40°C snaps; summers to 35°C
Transit
Driverless LRT opened 16-17 May 2026 — 18 stations, KZT 200; buses on the Tulpar card
Tax number
IIN, issued in person at a Public Service Centre — required for everything
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Astana checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.