Moving to Kazakhstan from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Kazakhstan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 56.3% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly KZT18,842,328 in Kazakhstan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Kazakh and Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Astana averages 46°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iowa to Kazakhstan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KZT18,842,328
To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 59.9% less
Groceries
pay 50.4% less
Transportation
pay 47.1% less
Housing
pay 73.1% less
Childcare
pay 80.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 67.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Kazakhstan cost about 44% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Kazakhstan.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Kazakhstan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Kazakhstan leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Kazakhstan across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Astana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 65°/41°F (18°/5°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Astana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 9°/-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Kazakhstan. To live, work, or study long-term in Kazakhstan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kazakhstan's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Kazakhstan
Visa Free
Kazakhstan passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Kazakhstan than Iowa?
Yes — Kazakhstan is on average about 45% cheaper than Iowa. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Kazakhstan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly KZT4,710,582 in Kazakhstan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Kazakhstan?
Usually fine from major cities in Kazakhstan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Kazakhstan compared to Iowa?
Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Kazakhstan compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?
The official languages in Kazakhstan are Kazakh and Russian. In Iowa, the official language is English.
