Shymkent, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
#127
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Shymkent is one of the most affordable cities in Kazakhstan with low prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
89%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are very reasonable, especially for long-term stays in apartments.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and grocery stores offer fresh produce at low prices; eating out is inexpensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
91%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are very affordable compared to global standards.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
78%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited but inexpensive when available.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gyms are affordable but not very abundant or high-end.
💱 Currency Stability
54%
Weight: 30
Kazakhstani tenge has moderate volatility; some inflation concerns exist.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
63%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 30-50 Mbps; stable but not top-tier.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; limited options for digital nomads.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
57%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but quality and reliability vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
43%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
20%
Weight: 100
Shymkent is not a well-known destination among digital nomads.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
75%
Weight: 30
Slower pace of life supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate pollution levels; some industrial areas affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
55%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is average; some areas have litter and maintenance issues.
🗨️ Language Barrier
38%
Weight: 30
Kazakh and Russian are dominant; English is not widely spoken.
💨 Air Quality
52%
Weight: 15
Air quality fluctuates; occasional smog and dust especially in winter.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
50%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services available but limited advanced facilities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
53%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious medical care requires travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
67%
Weight: 80
Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters; spring and autumn are pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
86%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
62%
Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas but not extensive.
❄️ Air Conditioning
65%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is present in newer buildings but not universal.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
71%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with Central Asian traditions and festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
40%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly local bars and cafes.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
70%
Weight: 15
Nearby natural attractions and parks for outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Some language schools for Russian and Kazakh but limited English-focused options.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
63%
Weight: 10
Cultural tours and local experiences available but not widely promoted.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
78%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Central Asian cuisine with affordable street food.
🧠 Yoga Studios
32%
Weight: 10
Very limited yoga studio presence.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
50%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but few specialized fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available; healthy dining options are limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
68%
Weight: 20
UTC+6 time zone suits Asia and parts of Europe but less ideal for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
35%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
30%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
32%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
38%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist; quality varies.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
25%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent with limited support infrastructure.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Basic digital payment options available; cash still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but adoption remains low and regulatory environment unclear.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Shymkent Airport offers domestic and limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
67%
Weight: 20
Bus system is affordable but limited in coverage and frequency.
🚶 Walkability
58%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
62%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Yandex.Taxi operate reliably.
🚲 Cycling
35%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and culture.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Train and bus connections to other Kazakh cities available but slow.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
20%
Weight: 10
No significant scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city; 5G limited.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally work well without restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
78%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited mostly to cafes and some public buildings.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Visa-free entry for many countries for short stays; longer stays require permits.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; some bureaucracy for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
40%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions and government oversight on media and speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and can be slow.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic processes exist but improving.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
20%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
30%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Shymkent.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate gender equality; some cultural conservatism.
✊ Racial Tolerance
60%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some xenophobia reported.