Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, offers a captivating blend of ancient Silk Road heritage, Soviet-era architecture, and stunning natural landscapes from the Altai Mountains to the Caspian Sea. Experience nomadic traditions in Central Asia's economic powerhouse, where futuristic capital Astana meets historic Almaty at the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains.
Local currency: Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Kazakhstan.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $12-18/night
- Budget
- $35-60/night
- Midrange
- $80-150/night
- Luxury
- $200-600+/night
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (baursak, samsa)
- Local
- $5-10 (café or canteen)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (restaurant)
- Fine
- $50-100+ (fine dining)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.30-0.40
- Metro
- $0.17 (Almaty)
- Taxi
- $2-5 city ride
- Airport
- $5-10 (Almaty)
Activities
- Museum
- $3-5
- Sites
- $2-5
- Tour
- $30-60
- Excursion
- $50-100
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Kazakhstan costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$200-280/week
Midrange traveller
$500-800/week
Luxury traveller
$1500-3000+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Stay in neighborhoods like Alatau or Sayakhat in Almaty rather than city center for 30-40% lower hotel prices
Eat lunch at canteens (stolovayas) where a hot meal costs $2-3 — these serve authentic Kazakh food at minimal cost
Use Yandex Taxi app instead of flagging taxis — app rates are 30-50% cheaper than street or hotel-arranged taxis
Buy a local Kcell or Beeline SIM card at the airport ($4-7 for 30GB) instead of using international roaming
Take the Almaty metro (17 cents per ride) instead of taxis for all trips along the central corridor
Visit Charyn Canyon on a shared minivan tour ($20-25 per person) rather than hiring a private car ($100+)
Shop for food at Magnum or Small supermarkets for self-catering — significantly cheaper than restaurant meals
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral
Almaty's central park featuring the magnificent wooden Zenkov Cathedral and the Eternal Flame memorial, all entirely free to visit and photograph.
First President Park
A beautiful modern park in Almaty with fountains, walking paths, and sculptures celebrating Kazakhstan's independence — ideal for evening strolls.
Republic Square (Astana)
Walk along Nurjol Boulevard connecting Bayterek Tower and Khan Shatyr, experiencing Astana's futuristic architecture for free.
Kok-Tobe Hill Walk
The hiking path to Kok-Tobe Hill above Almaty is free (only the cable car costs); the city panorama from the top is spectacular without paying for the cable car.
Green Bazaar Browsing
Kazakhstan's most vibrant market at its colorful best for free — browse the colors, smells, and energy of the stalls even if you're only buying small snacks.
Medeu Ice Skating Rink Exterior
Walk to the world's highest outdoor skating rink and climb the 842-step dam wall for mountain views — both free attractions near Almaty.
Big Almaty Botanical Garden
A large botanical garden in Almaty with diverse plant collections from Kazakhstan's various climate zones. Free or minimal entry charge on weekdays.