Almaty, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
#125
,
Nomad Score:
62%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western cities, with low prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
72%
Weight: 80
Reasonable rent prices, especially for shared apartments or studios in central areas.
🍎 Food & Groceries
80%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer fresh produce at low prices; dining out is affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
90%
Weight: 20
Public transport is very cheap, with extensive bus and metro networks.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
70%
Weight: 15
Affordable entertainment options including cinemas, theaters, and cultural events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
75%
Weight: 10
Monthly gym fees are low compared to Western standards.
💱 Currency Stability
63%
Weight: 30
Kazakhstani tenge has moderate fluctuations but generally stable.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 50-70 Mbps in the city center, reliable connections.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
65%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but limited compared to major global hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
67%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42%
Weight: 100
Still emerging as a digital nomad destination, relatively low international presence.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
71%
Weight: 30
Good balance with a slower pace of life compared to major Western cities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution is moderate; air quality can worsen in winter due to heating.
🧼 Cleanliness
60%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean but some areas show signs of litter and aging infrastructure.
🗨️ Language Barrier
48%
Weight: 30
Kazakh and Russian are dominant; English is not widely spoken outside tourist spots.
💨 Air Quality
52%
Weight: 15
Air pollution spikes in winter; generally moderate air quality during other seasons.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
60%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare is adequate; private clinics offer better services but can be costly.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
62%
Weight: 20
Sufficient for minor issues; serious conditions may require travel abroad.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
40%
Weight: 80
Cold winters with snow and short summers; not ideal for those preferring warm climates.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
68%
Weight: 10
Several parks and nearby mountains offer outdoor recreation.
❄️ Air Conditioning
50%
Weight: 15
Not common in older buildings; newer places have AC but not widespread.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
70%
Weight: 10
Distinct four seasons with cold winters and warm summers.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
79%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with a mix of Kazakh, Russian, and Central Asian influences.
🌃 Nightlife
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife with bars and clubs, but not very vibrant.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
83%
Weight: 15
Close proximity to mountains and nature reserves for hiking and skiing.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
65%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Russian and Kazakh through local classes and language exchanges.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72%
Weight: 10
Good availability of cultural tours and excursions to natural sites.
🎳 Indoors Fun
58%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options compared to larger cities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
76%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with Central Asian, Russian, and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
55%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available, growing interest but still niche.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
67%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not abundant.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce widely available; healthy eating options improving.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
UTC+6 time zone suitable for Asia-Europe overlap but less ideal for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
55%
Weight: 25
Limited expat and digital nomad networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
45%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is nascent with few dedicated platforms or hubs.
🏢 Coworking Quality
62%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack some amenities found in top-tier cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
53%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with government support but limited scale.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and local banking apps available but less integrated internationally.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
57%
Weight: 15
Growing interest in crypto but regulatory environment is cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
68%
Weight: 30
Good regional connections; limited direct long-haul flights.
🚇 Public Transit
75%
Weight: 20
Affordable and extensive metro and bus system.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but suburbs require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Yandex.Taxi widely used.
🚲 Cycling
40%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and harsh winters reduce cycling appeal.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Train and bus services available but can be slow and infrequent.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
35%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
78%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city; 5G rollout ongoing.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally work well; no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
75%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Visa on arrival for some nationalities; e-visa system improving.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; some complexity for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
40%
Weight: 15
Limited compared to Western standards; some government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable but with occasional political tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
58%
Weight: 15
Possible but requires documentation; some banks have strict policies for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62%
Weight: 10
Process is bureaucratic but improving with government reforms.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate friendliness; infrastructure and community still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
35%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence of nomads based in Almaty.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms may require some caution but generally safe.
✊ Racial Tolerance
55%
Weight: 50
Mixed; some reports of discrimination but generally tolerant in urban areas.