Moving to Kazakhstan from New York

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New York to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 62.7% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly KZT14,367,978 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 58°F in Albany, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from New York to Kazakhstan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 KZT14,367,978

To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 64.0% less

Groceries

pay 61.6% less

Transportation

pay 59.9% less

Housing

pay 79.8% less

Childcare

pay 85.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 71.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 460.94 KZT (August 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 New York.

New York

Queens 73%
Ithaca 62%

Kazakhstan

Almaty 34%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New York to Kazakhstan.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

NY
29.9%
KZ
21.0%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
KZ
86.0%

New York 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

NY
4.4%
KZ
4.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
KZ
$35,500

New York 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

NY
77.7 yrs
KZ
72.5 yrs

New York 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.

Albany Rain: 39.4 in/yr (1000 mm)
58° / 39°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Albany Astana
Jan–Mar 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 65°/41°F (18°/5°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/14°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 Albany Astana
Jan 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) /-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C)
Feb 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C)
Mar 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C)
May 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C)
Aug 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C)
Dec 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°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 New York?

Yes — Kazakhstan is on average about 58% cheaper than New York. 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 KZT3,591,994 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 New York?

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

What's the weather like in Kazakhstan compared to New York?

The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.

What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?

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

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At a Glance

KZ
Population 19,378,102 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