Moving to Kazakhstan from Kyrgyzstan

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 11.6% more expensive than Kyrgyzstan overall. A KGS6,558,660 salary in Kyrgyzstan would need to be roughly KZT32,442,855 in Kazakhstan to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Astana averages 46°F vs 90°F in Bishkek, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

What does your salary buy?

KGS6,558,660 KZT32,442,855

To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 17.7% more

Groceries

pay 8.8% more

Transportation

pay 14.4% more

Housing

pay 10.1% more

Childcare

pay 16.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KGS = 5.4 KZT (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan.

Living there in 2020
7,085 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in Kyrgyzstan live in Kazakhstan · UN DESA

Who's moving to Kazakhstan?

Top countries of origin for Kazakhstan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Kazakhstan compared to Kyrgyzstan.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KG
13.3
KZ
12.2

Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KG
$349
KZ
$1,460
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KG
21.5
KZ
40.3

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kazakhstan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KG
88.0
KZ
68.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KG
1.5t
KZ
12.6t

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on environment, though Kazakhstan leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KG
5.9
KZ
14.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KG
50.0%
KZ
34.1%

Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Kyrgyzstan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KG
4.0%
KZ
4.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KG
$6,400
KZ
$35,500

Kazakhstan generally does better on employment & economy, though Kyrgyzstan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KG
72.3 yrs
KZ
72.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KG
25.7
KZ
19.2

Kazakhstan generally does better on family life, though Kyrgyzstan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bishkek Rain: 17.8 in/yr (451 mm)
90° / 14°F

Avg. annual high / low

Astana Rain: 12.5 in/yr (318 mm)
46° / 25°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bishkek Astana
Jan–Mar 73°/-9°F (23°/-22°C) 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C)
Apr–Jun 98°/28°F (36°/-2°C) 65°/41°F (18°/5°C)
Jul–Sep 105°/40°F (40°/5°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 83°/-5°F (28°/-21°C) 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C)
View all months
Month Bishkek Astana
Jan 67°/-13°F (19.2°/-25.0°C) /-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C)
Feb 68°/-10°F (20.2°/-23.2°C) 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C)
Mar 85°/-3°F (29.4°/-19.2°C) 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C)
Apr 91°/18°F (33.0°/-7.5°C) 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C)
May 96°/25°F (35.6°/-4.0°C) 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C)
Jun 106°/40°F (40.9°/4.2°C) 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C)
Jul 109°/50°F (42.8°/9.9°C) 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C)
Aug 105°/39°F (40.5°/3.8°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
Sep 100°/32°F (37.9°/0.1°C) 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C)
Oct 94°/12°F (34.2°/-11.2°C) 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C)
Nov 82°/-10°F (27.9°/-23.3°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C)
Dec 72°/-17°F (22.1°/-27.1°C) 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C)

Data: Kyrgyzhydromet Kyrgyzhydromet, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kyrgyzstan 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.

Kyrgyzstan passport

Kyrgyzstan passport holder visiting Kazakhstan

Visa Free
Kyrgyzstan passport holders can enter Kazakhstan without a visa.
Kazakhstan passport

Kazakhstan passport holder visiting Kyrgyzstan

Visa Free
Kazakhstan passport holders can enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa.

Data: 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 Kyrgyzstan?

On average Kazakhstan is about 8% less expensive than Kyrgyzstan, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kazakhstan?

Budget about KZT8,110,714 for 3 months in Kazakhstan (based on a KGS6,558,660 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Kazakhstan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Kazakhstan: 14.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kazakhstan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Kazakhstan safe for expats?

Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Kazakhstan compared to Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kazakhstan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 40.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Kazakhstan, compared to 21.5 in Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kyrgyzstan: 69).

What's the weather like in Kazakhstan compared to Kyrgyzstan?

The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 90°F in Bishkek. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bishkek gets 17.8 in.

What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?

The official languages in Kazakhstan are Kazakh and Russian. In Kyrgyzstan, the official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian.

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At a Glance

KG KZ
Population 6,071,750 19,398,331
Currency Kyrgystani Som (KGS) Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Languages Kyrgyz, Russian Kazakh, Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +996 +7
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112