Asia · 3 cities
Kazakhstan for digital nomads: 3 cities compared (2026)
Kazakhstan has 3 cities in the dataset. Shymkent scores highest under balanced weights at 55/100. Kazakhstan has a dedicated remote-work visa, the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1).
Dataset 2026.10.7. How scoring works.
Cities in Kazakhstan, ranked
Balanced weights, every factor equal. Open a city for the full breakdown with sources, or rank them with your own weights.
| # | City | Score | Cost/mo | Internet | Comfortable months | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shymkent Kazakhstan's warm third city, the gateway to Turkistan and the Uzbek border | 55 | — | 4.5 Mbps | 4/12 | Turkistan mausoleum day trip · Bazaars and shashlik |
| 2 | Almaty Mountain-backed city on the Silk Road | 53 | — | 6.6 Mbps | 0/12 | Tian Shan mountains · Skiing at Shymbulak |
| 3 | Astana Planned steppe capital with bold architecture | 47 | — | 7.3 Mbps | 3/12 | Futuristic skyline · Visa-free for many |
* national estimate
National figures shared by every city
These come from country-level sources and apply to every city in Kazakhstan; city pages add the local numbers.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.55 per 100,000 people | Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2022 |
| Political stability | 62 (percentile, World Bank WGI) | Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), 2025 |
| Health coverage index | 83 (WHO UHC index, 0–100) | UHC service coverage index, 2023 |
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, 2021 |
| Human Development Index | 0.837 | Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), 2023 |
| English proficiency | low | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), 2024 |
| Starlink | available | Starlink availability map, 2026-10 |
Visas and entry
What three common passports get at the border, from the passport index. Pick your own passport on the ranker for the full picture.
| Passport | Entry rule |
|---|---|
| US passport | 30 days visa-free |
| EU passport | 30 days visa-free |
| UK passport | 30 days visa-free |
Compare cities in Kazakhstan
Head-to-head pages for the pairs people look at most.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kazakhstan good for digital nomads?
- Shymkent scores 55/100 under balanced weights, which ranks it 777 of 1,000 cities in the dataset. Kazakhstan's 3 cities average 51.3/100. Strongest factors in Shymkent: air quality and healthcare; weakest: internet.
- What is the cheapest city in Kazakhstan for a remote worker?
- There is no open cost-of-living figure for Kazakhstan yet, so its cities are scored on the other factors.
- Does Kazakhstan have a digital nomad visa?
- Yes: the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1). Minimum income $3,000/month. Details, documents and official sources are in the Kazakhstan visa guide.
- How long can a US, EU or UK citizen stay in Kazakhstan without a visa?
- US passport: 30 days visa-free. EU passport (Germany as reference): 30 days visa-free. UK passport: 30 days visa-free. Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02.
- Which city in Kazakhstan has the fastest internet?
- Astana, with a measured median download of 7.3 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024). Measured speeds run below advertised plans everywhere; 40 Mbps measured is already good.
- How safe is Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan records 2.55 homicides per 100,000 people (Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2022) and sits at the 62th percentile for political stability (World Bank WGI, 2025). These are national figures; city pages note local caveats.
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