Almaty Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 💵 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 |
| 🏢 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) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ALMATY