Essentials
- City
- Almaty, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
- Population
- 2,200,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 65 Mbps (Fiber available up to 500 Mbps via Kazakhtelecom)
- Currency & Banking
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT). 1 USD ≈ 450 KZT, 1 EUR ≈ 490 KZT
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use filtered or bottled water like 'Tassay'
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Beeline or Kcell/Activ; Approx. 4,500 KZT ($10) for 20GB/month. Available at Almaty International Airport (ALA)
- Banking for Expats
- Kaspi.kz (highly recommended for QR payments), Halyk Bank
- Accommodation
- Global airbnb, local Krisha.kz (for long-term rentals)
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; Kaspi QR is accepted even by street vendors
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and MyHome.kz
- Budget Accommodation
- Wanderlust Hostel (Kunayev St), ALA Hostel; approx. 5,000–8,000 KZT per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Medeu District and the Golden Quarter (near Panfilov Park and Arbat)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bostandyk District (near Esentai Mall) or Almaly District (vibrant cafe culture)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SmartPoint (Baizakov St 280) - approx. 60,000 KZT ($135) per month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bowler Coffee Roasters (Kunayev St), Daily Coffee (Abylai Khan Ave)
- Networking Events
- Digital Almaty Forum (annual), Meetups at Tech Garden (Alatau IT City)
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Almaty, Almaty Expats Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yandex Go (standard ride approx. 1,000–2,000 KZT)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Almaty Bike (station-based), Jet or Whoosh (e-scooters)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Kapchagay Reservoir (70 km away), beach clubs like Hawaii or Santorini
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Astana, FlyArystan (low-cost)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- A2 Highway (East-West), A3 Highway (North to Astana)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Almaty-2 Railway Station (Central), Almaty-1 (Long distance)
- Public Transport Passes
- Onay Card (100 KZT per ride via card/SMS, 200 KZT cash)
- Regional Travel
- Talgo high-speed trains to Astana; Shared taxis (Pyatachok) to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- SEMA Hospital (Nauryzbai Batyr St), International SOS Clinic
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- YogaDom (Tole Bi St), Eight Elements
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- World Class Almaty (Nauryzbai Batyr St), Invictus Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Wash and Dry Self-Service (Kabanbay Batyr St)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo, Wolt, ChocoFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Beshbarmak (boiled meat and noodles), Baursak (fried dough pearls)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Govinda's (Abylai Khan Ave), Green Point (Zhibek Zholy)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Vanilla (Kunayev St), Rakhat Chocolate Factory Outlet (Zenkov St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Zelyony Bazar (Green Market) for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Kaspi Shop, ForteMarket, Wildberries.kz
- Grocery Delivery
- Arbuz.kz, Magnum Go
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Panfilov Street (pedestrian) and Kurmangazy Street
- Local Brewery
- Line Brew, Baza (Craft beer)
- Wine Bars
- Arba Wine (Abylai Khan Ave) - local boutique vineyard shop
- Street Food Stalls
- Shashlik stalls at Green Bazaar, Qonay (local fast food)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Del Papa (Italian), Manga Sushi, Korean House
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral), Kok-Tobe Hill
- Museums & Art Venues
- Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, Central State Museum
- Historical Sites
- Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen
- Religious Sites
- Central Mosque Almaty, St. Nicholas Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Almaty Marathon (April), Apple Fest (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Golden Quarter (historical center)
- Theater Venues
- Abay Opera House, Lermontov Russian Drama Theatre
- Local Markets
- Zelyony Bazar (Green Market), Barakholka (massive flea market)
- Music Scene
- Philharmonic Hall, EverJazz club
- Street Art
- Murals on Dostyk Avenue and Kurmangazy Street
- Cooking Classes
- Compote Cooking School
- Art Galleries
- Esentai Gallery, A. Kasteyev Arts State Museum
- Historic Buildings
- Hotel Kazakhstan (iconic Soviet modernism skyscraper)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Golden Man' (Altyn Adam) - national symbol
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Big Almaty Lake (BAO), Charyn Canyon (3-hour drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Ile-Alatau National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Terrenkur Walkway, Botanical Garden Almaty
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Shymbulak Mountain Resort (3,200m), Medeu Skating Rink area
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sorgul Wetlands, Baum Grove
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Almarasan Gorge (designated picnic areas only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Kazpost, CDEK, DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple City Service, iPoint (Esentai Mall)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Dostyk Sports Complex
- Language Classes
- KIMEP University Language Center, InterPress
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Abay Ave)
- Community Centers
- Artishock Theater community events
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Arena, Portal
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Located in Kapchagay (e.g., Casino Bellagio) - gambling is illegal in Almaty city
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 850,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 34,000,000 KZT / $75,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 550,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 22,000,000 KZT / $49,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 800,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 48,000,000 KZT / $106,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 500,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 30,000,000 KZT / $66,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 750,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 60,000,000 KZT / $133,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 450,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 36,000,000 KZT / $80,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% Standard Corporate Income Tax (CIT)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (Often reduced to 5% or 0% under tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency-based; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% (Flat rate for personal income tax)
- VAT
- 12%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to residents
- Property Tax
- Yes, calculated based on the state-evaluated value of the property
- Property Transaction Tax
- No VAT on residential resale; registration fees are low
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Neo Nomad Visa (launched 2024/2025) provides residency for those earning $3,000+/mo from foreign sources