Moving to Kazakhstan from Portugal

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Portugal to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 48.8% cheaper than Portugal overall. A €65,577 salary in Portugal would need to be roughly KZT18,880,983 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 69°F in Lisbon, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 KZT18,880,983

To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 51.5% less

Groceries

pay 39.4% less

Transportation

pay 56.9% less

Housing

pay 65.7% less

Childcare

pay 61.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 43.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 539.9 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.

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 40% less than cities in Portugal.

Portugal

Cascais 57%
Almada 52%
Porto 51%
Faro 51%

Kazakhstan

Almaty 34%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Kazakhstan compared to Portugal.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PT
0.8
KZ
2.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PT
7.2
KZ
12.2

Portugal performs better than Kazakhstan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

PT
$4,928
KZ
$1,460
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PT
57.7
KZ
40.3

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kazakhstan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PT
10.0
KZ
68.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PT
3.3t
KZ
12.6t

Portugal performs better than Kazakhstan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PT
43.5
KZ
14.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PT
12.3%
KZ
34.1%

Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Kazakhstan leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PT
6.5%
KZ
4.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PT
$41,700
KZ
$35,500

Kazakhstan generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PT
81.5 yrs
KZ
72.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PT
2.5
KZ
19.2

Portugal generally does better on family life, though Kazakhstan leads in literacy rate.

Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lisbon Astana
Jan–Mar 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) 65°/41°F (18°/5°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C)
View all months
Month Lisbon Astana
Jan 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) /-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C)
Feb 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C)
Mar 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C)
Apr 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C)
May 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C)
Jun 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C)
Jul 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C)
Aug 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
Sep 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C)
Oct 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C)
Nov 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C)

Data: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, 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 Portugal 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.

Portugal passport

Portugal passport holder visiting Kazakhstan

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

Kazakhstan passport holder visiting Portugal

Visa Required
Kazakhstan passport holders need a visa to enter Portugal.

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 Portugal?

On average Kazakhstan is about 47% less expensive than Portugal, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kazakhstan?

Budget about KZT4,720,246 for 3 months in Kazakhstan (based on a €65,577 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?

Portugal performs better than Kazakhstan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kazakhstan is 2.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.

How is healthcare in Kazakhstan compared to Portugal?

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kazakhstan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Kazakhstan, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Kazakhstan scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).

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

The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.

What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?

The official languages in Kazakhstan are Kazakh and Russian. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

PT KZ
Population 10,242,081 19,398,331
Currency Euro (€) Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Languages Portuguese Kazakh, Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +351 +7
Time zones 2 2
Emergency number 112 112