Moving to Kazakhstan from Maryland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Maryland to Kazakhstan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Maryland to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 61.5% cheaper than Maryland. A $75,000 salary in Maryland would need to be roughly KZT15,474,485 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 68°F in Annapolis, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Maryland to Kazakhstan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 KZT15,474,485

To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 62.1% less

Groceries

pay 61.7% less

Transportation

pay 55.6% less

Housing

pay 78.0% less

Childcare

pay 87.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 487.6 KZT (June 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.

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 57% less than cities in Maryland.

Maryland

Bethesda 71%

Kazakhstan

Almaty 34%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Kazakhstan

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Maryland to Kazakhstan.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MD
33.4%
KZ
21.0%

Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Maryland across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MD
91.6%
KZ
86.0%

Maryland performs better than Kazakhstan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
3.7%
KZ
4.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$69,127
KZ
$35,500

Maryland generally does better on employment & economy, though Kazakhstan leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MD
76.8 yrs
KZ
72.5 yrs

Maryland 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.

Annapolis Rain: 47.3 in/yr (1201 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Annapolis Astana
Jan–Mar 50°/33°F (10°/0°C) 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) 65°/41°F (18°/5°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/69°F (30°/20°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/42°F (15°/6°C) 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C)
View all months
Month Annapolis Astana
Jan 44°/29°F (6.9°/-1.6°C) /-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C)
Feb 48°/31°F (9.0°/-0.5°C) 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C)
Mar 57°/38°F (13.7°/3.5°C) 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C)
Apr 68°/47°F (20.1°/8.6°C) 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C)
May 77°/57°F (25.0°/13.7°C) 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C)
Jun 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.2°C) 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C)
Jul 89°/71°F (31.9°/21.9°C) 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.4°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
Sep 81°/64°F (27.2°/17.6°C) 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C)
Oct 69°/52°F (20.7°/10.9°C) 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C)
Nov 59°/42°F (14.9°/5.3°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C)
Dec 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.4°C) 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, 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 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

United States passport holder visiting Kazakhstan

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Kazakhstan without a visa.
Kazakhstan passport

Kazakhstan passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Kazakhstan passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Maryland?

Yes — Kazakhstan is on average about 58% cheaper than Maryland. 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 KZT3,868,621 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 Maryland?

Kazakhstan performs significantly better than Maryland across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 68°F in Annapolis. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Annapolis gets 47.3 in.

What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?

The official languages in Kazakhstan are Kazakh and Russian. In Maryland, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

KZ
Population 5,773,552 19,398,331
Currency United States Dollar ($) Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Languages English Kazakh, Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +7
Time zones 11 2
Emergency number 911 112