Forum
Analytics
Almaty, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
#125
,
Nomad Score:
63%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western cities; food, transport, and services are reasonably priced.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
72%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate, with good options for short-term and long-term stays in central areas.
🍎 Food & Groceries
80%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer fresh produce at low prices; eating out is affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
91%
Weight: 20
Public transport is very cheap; taxis and ride-sharing services are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
70%
Weight: 15
Cinema, theaters, and nightlife are affordable but somewhat limited in variety.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
75%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced with many options available.
💱 Currency Stability
63%
Weight: 30
Kazakhstani tenge has moderate volatility but generally stable in recent years.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 50-70 Mbps; reliable in most urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
68%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but not as abundant or modern as in major global hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
79%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but limited dedicated nomad-friendly spots.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42%
Weight: 100
Still emerging as a digital nomad destination; relatively low international nomad presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase and activate SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
71%
Weight: 30
Generally balanced lifestyle with a slower pace than major Western cities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
59%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution can be moderate; some industrial areas affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
64%
Weight: 10
City is fairly clean but some public areas and transport can be less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
47%
Weight: 30
Kazakh and Russian are dominant; English is not widely spoken outside tourist and business sectors.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air pollution spikes in winter due to heating; generally moderate air quality.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
67%
Weight: 25
Good schools and parks; safe environment for families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
60%
Weight: 20
Decent healthcare facilities in private clinics; public healthcare is basic.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
83%
Weight: 25
Medical services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
62%
Weight: 20
Access to healthcare is good in the city, but quality varies widely.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
41%
Weight: 80
Continental climate with cold winters and hot summers; winter can be harsh and long.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
76%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional earthquakes but generally safe.
🏞️ Green Spaces
67%
Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas, but urban sprawl limits access in some neighborhoods.
❄️ Air Conditioning
69%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in newer buildings but less so in older structures.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
73%
Weight: 10
Four distinct seasons with snowy winters and warm summers.
🔊 Noise Pollution
54%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in city center; quieter in residential areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage blending Kazakh traditions with Russian and Soviet influences.
🌃 Nightlife
61%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is developing with bars and clubs but not very vibrant compared to larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
84%
Weight: 15
Proximity to mountains and natural parks offers excellent outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Russian and Kazakh exist but limited formal language schools for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72%
Weight: 10
Good availability of cultural tours and local experiences, especially related to nomadic heritage.
🎳 Indoors Fun
58%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited; cinemas and malls available but not extensive.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
75%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with Central Asian, Russian, and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
59%
Weight: 10
Few dedicated yoga studios; yoga is growing but still niche.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
68%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are present but not as diverse as in Western cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+6 time zone is convenient for Asia and parts of Europe but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
54%
Weight: 25
Limited expat and digital nomad networking events; growing but still small community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is limited; most remote jobs come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but emerging, with some local platforms.
🏢 Coworking Quality
63%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack some amenities found in top global hubs.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
57%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent with some government support but limited venture capital.
💳 Local Payment Services
66%
Weight: 10
Payment infrastructure is improving with mobile payments and cards widely accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
55%
Weight: 15
Growing interest in crypto but regulatory environment is cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
69%
Weight: 30
Good regional connections; limited direct long-haul flights to Western countries.
🚇 Public Transit
74%
Weight: 20
Efficient metro and bus system covering most city areas.
🚶 Walkability
62%
Weight: 20
Central areas are walkable; suburban zones less so.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
71%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-sharing apps like Yandex.Taxi operate reliably.
🚲 Cycling
43%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; not a common mode of transport.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good train and bus connections to other Kazakh cities and neighboring countries.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
38%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no widespread scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage citywide; 5G rollout in progress.
🔒 VPN Reliability
77%
Weight: 20
VPN services work well; no major government restrictions on VPN usage.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
75%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
61%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
64%
Weight: 40
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival for many nationalities; e-visa system improving.
📊 Tax Friendliness
56%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; some bureaucracy for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
50%
Weight: 15
Limited compared to Western standards; some government controls on media.
🏛️ Political Stability
68%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional protests.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
59%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and can be bureaucratic.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
63%
Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward but involves some paperwork.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
52%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but lacks infrastructure and community compared to top nomad cities.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
35%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events or meetups; community is small.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
41%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for nomads specific to Almaty.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
73%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms can be conservative but urban areas are more open.
✊ Racial Tolerance
55%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some ethnic tensions exist.