Transportation
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Jet or Whoosh Scooters (via app); Astana Bike (seasonal)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Central City Beach on Ishim River (mostly for sunbathing)
- Top Regional Airline
- Qazaq Air / FlyArystan (low-cost)
- Top International Airline
- Air Astana
- Highway Access
- P-4 Highway (to Burabay), M-36 (to Karaganda)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Nur-Sultan-Nurly Zhol (New Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Astra Plat card (90 KZT per ride via bus)
- Regional Travel
- Talgo high-speed trains to Almaty (approx. 15,000 KZT)
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yandex Go (standard city ride approx. 1,000 - 2,000 KZT)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- National Scientific Cardiac Surgery Center; Presidential Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Pura (Kunaev St 12); Soul Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Winox Fitness (approx. 45,000 KZT/month); Invictus Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Stirka.kz (Self-service and pickup options available)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo, Wolt, ChocoFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Beshbarmak (boiled meat and noodles), Baursak (fried dough)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Koktem (Water-Green Boulevard); Green Kitchen
- Best Dessert Spots
- La Crème (Dostyk St); Crepe Cafe
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Artem Market (Old town bazar); Magnum Supermarkets
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Kaspi Store (the 'Amazon' of Kazakhstan); Wildberries
- Grocery Delivery
- Arbuz.kz; Airba Fresh
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Kabanbay Batyr Ave area; The Shoreditch
- Local Brewery
- Line Brew (classic Kazakh premium beer Brand)
- Wine Bars
- Vinoteka (Dostyk St); Wine Cafe by Provino
- Street Food Stalls
- Doner spots near Eurasian National University; Keruen Mall food court
- Popular International Cuisine
- Zheka's Ice (Doners/Burgers); Focaccia (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center (world's largest tent)
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Historical Sites
- ALZHIR Memorial Complex (30km outside city)
- Religious Sites
- Hazret Sultan Mosque (one of the largest in Central Asia)
- Annual Events
- City Day (July 6th); Nauryz (March 21-23)
- Cultural Districts
- Water-Green Boulevard (Nurzhol Boulevard)
- Theater Venues
- Astana Opera (World-class architecture and performances)
- Local Markets
- Artem Bazar (Fresh produce, spices, local textiles)
- Music Scene
- Qazaq Concert Hall; various jazz nights at The Bus Music Venue
- Street Art
- Urban art murals in the 'Old Town' (Right Bank) residential blocks
- Cooking Classes
- Studio 'Culinary Academy' (periodic workshops on Kazakh cuisine)
- Art Galleries
- Has Sanat Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Ak Orda Presidential Palace
- Local Heritage
- Golden Eagle and Sun (National Flag motifs)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Burabay National Park (Borovoe) - 2.5 hours drive
- National Parks Nearby
- Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve (UNESCO site, known for flamingos)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Astana Botanical Garden; Central Park path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Bayterek Tower Observation Deck (approx. 2,000 KZT entry)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Taldykol Lakes (edge of the city)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated picnic zones in Burabay National Park only
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- KazPost; CDEK (for international shipping to Russia/CIS)
- Tech Repair Services
- IT-Support.kz; iSupport (Apple products)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Daulet Sport Complex
- Language Classes
- Bonas MacFarlane (English/Russian); Kazakh Language courses at Nazarbayev University
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Academic Library of Kazakhstan
- Community Centers
- Bolashak Association spaces
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Arena (Turan Ave)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Prohibited in city; located in Shchuchinsk/Borovoe zone
Essentials
- City
- Nur-Sultan (Astana), Akmola Region, Kazakhstan
- Population
- 1,350,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 65 Mbps (Fiber) / 4G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT); 1 USD ≈ 450 KZT
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use bottled or filtered water (approx. 250 KZT per 1.5L)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Beeline or Kcell; roughly 4,500 KZT ($10) for 20GB monthly plan
- Banking for Expats
- Kaspi.kz (highly recommended for the app), Halyk Bank
- Accommodation
- Modern high-rise apartments via Krisha.kz or Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; Kaspi QR and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Krisha.kz (local site), Booking.com
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Nomad 24 (approx. 5,000 KZT/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Left Bank (Yesil District) near Bayterek Tower
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Left Bank near Abu Dhabi Plaza or Highvill Astana complex
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Astana Hub (EXPO grounds) - approx. 40,000 KZT/month; Multispace (Level 3, Dostyk St)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Ministry of Coffee (Kunaev St) - High-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Digital Bridge Forum (annual); Astana Hub community meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Astana; 'Astana Expats' Facebook Group
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 650,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 26,000,000 KZT / ~$57,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 400,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 16,000,000 KZT / ~$35,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 600,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 36,000,000 KZT / ~$80,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 380,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 22,800,000 KZT / ~$50,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 550,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 44,000,000 KZT / ~$97,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 350,000 KZT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 28,000,000 KZT / ~$62,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Standard); 0% for Astana Hub members
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (can be reduced to 5% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency based on 183 days rule; flat tax for individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% (Flat Rate Personal Income Tax)
- VAT
- 12%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to residents with interests in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Yes, calculated based on the value determined by the tax authority (very low)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Not a percentage-based tax, but state duties for registration apply
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Neo Nomad Visa (expected 2024-2026 rollout) targeting remote workers