Moving to Ukraine from Kazakhstan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kazakhstan to Ukraine? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kazakhstan to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 9.2% more expensive than Kazakhstan overall. A KZT35,393,750 salary in Kazakhstan would need to be roughly UAH3,554,511 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kiev averages 56°F vs 46°F in Astana, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
What does your salary buy?
KZT35,393,750 → UAH3,554,511
To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 13.3% less
Groceries
pay 10.0% more
Transportation
pay 48.6% more
Housing
pay 0.2% less
Childcare
pay 24.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.2% 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 Ukraine cost about 11% less than cities in Kazakhstan.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Ukraine
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Kazakhstan to Ukraine.
Who's moving to Ukraine?
Top countries of origin for Ukraine's foreign-born residents.
- 3,330,586
- 249,641
-
3.225,962
Kazakhstan
- 223,491
- 152,249
- 83,674
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ukraine compared to Kazakhstan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Kazakhstan generally does better on safety, though Ukraine leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Ukraine performs significantly better than Kazakhstan across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Ukraine generally does better on infrastructure, though Kazakhstan leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Kazakhstan generally does better on employment & economy, though Ukraine leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Ukraine performs significantly better than Kazakhstan across all family life metrics.
Data: Tax Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Astana | Kiev |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C) | 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/41°F (18°/5°C) | 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) | 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C) | 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Astana | Kiev |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9°/-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C) | 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C) | 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) |
| Mar | 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C) | 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) |
| Apr | 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C) | 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) |
| May | 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C) | 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) |
| Jun | 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C) | 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) |
| Jul | 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) |
| Aug | 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) | 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) |
| Sep | 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C) | 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C) | 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) |
| Nov | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C) | 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) |
| Dec | 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C) | 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) |
Data:
Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kazakhstan and Ukraine. To live, work, or study long-term in Ukraine, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ukraine's immigration authority.
Kazakhstan passport holder visiting Ukraine
Visa Free
Ukraine passport holder visiting Kazakhstan
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Ukraine than Kazakhstan?
On average Ukraine is around 6% pricier than Kazakhstan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?
Budget about UAH888,628 for 3 months in Ukraine (based on a KZT35,393,750 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ukraine?
Connectivity is usually fine (Ukraine: 18.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ukraine offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Ukraine safe for expats?
Kazakhstan generally does better on safety, though Ukraine leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.6 in Kazakhstan.
How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Ukraine, compared to 40.3 in Kazakhstan. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kazakhstan: 80).
What's the weather like in Ukraine compared to Kazakhstan?
The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 46°F in Astana. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Astana gets 12.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ukraine?
The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In Kazakhstan, the official languages are Kazakh and Russian.
