Astana
Astana is the capital and second-largest city of Kazakhstan a 1.4-million-person purpose-built capital on the Ishim River steppe in northern Kazakhstan, established as the new capital in 1997 (replacing Almaty). The city was renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 (after President Nazarbayev), then renamed back to Astana in September 2022. The post-1997 architectural programme is uniquely the largest concentration of Norman Foster + Partners buildings outside London the Bayterek Tower (the 97 m 2002 tower-and-egg structure, the architectural symbol of the new capital), the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre (the 150 m 2010 tent-shaped structure, the world's largest tent), and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (the 2006 pyramid). The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC, established 2018) is uniquely the only English-common-law jurisdiction in Central Asia modelled on the Dubai International Financial Centre, with up to 50-year tax holidays for qualifying firms. Kazakhstan operates a uniquely simple 10% flat PIT. A one-bedroom in Yesil or Esil costs KZT 200,000–320,000/month ($430–680) among the most affordable purpose-built-capital-city rents on earth.
Thinking about Astana, Kazakhstan? Visa process: Easy (about 4 weeks). Rent runs from $700/mo, roughly $1,310/mo all-in for one person — safety 84/100, internet 88/100 on Jonzy.
Best for: Norman Foster architecture lovers, Finance and AIFC professionals, Affordable Eurasian living, Tech and startup professionals.
- Rent from $700/mo, about $1,310/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 84/100 · Internet 88/100 · distinct seasons and more variable weather.
- Visa: Easy process, about 4 weeks.
- Local salaries average around $650/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Astana
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $700/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $280/mo |
| Transport | $40/mo |
| Healthcare | $70/mo |
| Utilities | $90/mo |
| Other essentials | $130/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,310/mo |
How Astana stacks up
- Rent eats about 53% of a one-person monthly budget in Astana — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,310/mo all-in, Astana runs about 6% cheaper than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$650/mo) covers roughly 50% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is internet (88/100); the weakest is climate (30/100).
Is Astana right for you?
Highlights
- Fast, reliable internet (88/100).
- Very safe by catalog scores (84/100).
Watch-outs
- Variable weather with distinct seasons.
Quality of life in Astana
- Safety: 84/100
- Internet speed: 88/100
- Climate: 30/100
- Healthcare: 70/100
- Expat community: 70/100
Taxes in Astana
Kazakhstan operates a uniquely simple 10% flat PIT
Living in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on earth and the 9th-largest country by area a 20-million-person Central Asian republic spanning the steppe between Russia and China. Kazakhstan operates a uniquely simple 10% flat PIT among the lowest in Central Asia and the broader CIS region. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) operates a separate English-common-law tax regime with up to 50-year tax holidays for qualifying financial-services and tech firms uniquely on earth, the only English-common-law jurisdiction in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has comprehensive tax treaties with most major economies including the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, China, Turkey, the UAE, Italy, Spain, India, and Russia. Most Western nationals enjoy 30-day visa-free entry uniquely accessible. Long-term residency requires the Long-stay Visa, the Investor Visa, or AIFC corporate registration.
Astana relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Astana?
A single person typically spends about $1,310/month in Astana, including rent (from $700/mo), food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and misc. Costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Astana?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Astana: rent from $700, food $280, transport $40, healthcare $70, utilities $90, and other essentials $130 — about $1,310/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Astana a good place to relocate?
On this page, Astana scores 88/100 for internet, 84/100 for safety, and 30/100 for climate — catalog averages, not personalised to you. In Jonzy, you can rank it against 355 other cities for your income, passport, and lifestyle priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Astana?
Long-stay relocation routes for Astana depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Neo-Nomad Visa" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Kazakhstan against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Astana?
Core costs for one person run about $1,310/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $1,800/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $650/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Astana best for?
Astana tends to suit norman foster architecture lovers, finance and aifc professionals, affordable eurasian living and tech and startup professionals — based on its cost profile (about $1,310/mo all-in), 88/100 internet, 84/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Astana expensive to live in?
At about $1,310/mo all-in for one person, Astana sits around the middle of the catalog on cost — about 6% below the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Astana safe to live in?
Astana scores 84/100 on Jonzy's safety index, among the safer cities in the catalog. For families specifically it rates 80/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Astana good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 88/100 — fast and dependable enough for video-heavy remote work. The expat and nomad scene rates 70/100, and work-life balance 80/100. Combined with ~$1,310/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Astana; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Astana?
Astana scores 30/100 for climate — a climate with real seasons and trade-offs worth checking month by month. It logs roughly 235 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Astana?
Typical tax snapshot for Astana, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan operates a uniquely simple 10% flat PIT. Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.