A Digital Nomad Guide to Almaty

Almaty Visa

Travel visas for Americans and many European citizens are good for 30 days and can be granted on arrival. Travelers of 117 nationalities can now apply for a Kazakhstan tourist visa online. You can apply for the E-Visa online here. However due to Covid, normal tourist visas are currently on hold so check the government website for updates. 

Work visas can be obtained through employers. Most companies will have links to people in government and that usually helps the process speed up. The visa process can be quite arduous; my brother was a teacher at an international school in Nur-Sultan and reported that there was a fair amount of paperwork to do.

You will need at least 2 blank pages on your passport and the passport should expire no earlier than 3 months from the expiry date of the online visa.

Many foreigners do a visa run to the border in Kyrgyzstan, which is relatively quick and cheap. Currently the Kazakh government has extended expiration dates of all visas and work permits until Nov 1 2021. Check the government website for further updates.

Kazakhstan entry requirements during COVID-19: 

Passengers arriving in Kazakhstan must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued no more than 3 days before arrival. The medical certificate must be in English, Kazakh or Russian. Children under the age of 5 are exempt provided they are accompanied by someone with a negative PCR test certificate. Citizens and residents of Kazakhstan who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Kazakhstan are also exempt. Travelers must present a completed health questionnaire on arrival. There is medical screening on arrival.

Culture and Food in Almaty

The main pillar of tourism and point of attraction for foreign tourists in Central Asia and especially in Kazakhstan is its incredible hospitality and great food. Food is taken as a high priority in the lifestyle of local people. 

Downtown, there are many pubs and restaurants. In the spring, summer and autumn, Almaty has somewhat of a sidewalk cafe atmosphere. There is every variety of restaurant imaginable, from fast food to English pub grub, high end French and Italian dining and ethnic cuisines like Uzbek and Georgian. Generally the service is brilliant and of a higher standard than Europe.

The average cost for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is around $6 (2500 KZT). A regular cappuccino costs $1.80 USD (750 KZT). 

There are many supermarkets across the city where you can find fresh and dried groceries as well as all the normal toiletries and homeware that is available in Europe. It is important to note the tap water in Kazakhstan is not drinkable. 

The traditional food in Kazakhstan is very similar to Turkish food. The diet is very meat and cheese heavy due to the roots of the nomadic culture. Meat dishes are frequent; horse meat dishes can be found in most of the restaurants here too. In the national cuisine, livestock meat can be cooked in a variety of ways and is usually served with a wide assortment of traditional bread products. 

There are a lot of Shashliks (kebabs) to choose from which are extremely delicious. Russian food has a strong influence here and is very popular. I highly recommend trying Borscht which is a sweet and sour beet soup.

When I visited Kazakhstan, I was mainly vegetarian which I had to put on pause somewhat whilst I was there as I was dining out with friends and family regularly who were not vegetarian. This being said, there are more vegan and vegetarian options now opening up in the city but this is harder to find the further out of the centre you go, and more difficult when you are in the countryside. More Kazakh youngsters are turning to plant-based diets as they seek out eco-conscious choices and adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Here is a great article on Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants around the city.

A traditional Kazakh dinner involves a multitude of buffet style appetisers on the table followed by a soup. After one or two main courses are served such as Pilaf – rice dish and Beshbarmak – boiled meat and noodles. 

Refreshments often include black tea and traditional milk-derived drinks such as Ayran – a type of savoury yoghurt, Shubat – fermented camel milk and Kumis – fermented horse or donkey milk.

Recommended Restaurants in Almaty: 

Tyubeteyka – For local and central Asian food, check out one of the three Tyubeteyka restaurants in the city. Open from 12PM – 12AM. Main meals range from $3 – $9. These restaurants have quality service and the staff are respectful to guests. The food is delicious and authentic.

Navat – Don’t be fooled by its exterior that doesn’t reflect what’s going on inside – the interior is absolutely stunning. The service is exceptional with attentive and polite staff. Everything I tried was delicious, well-balanced and had vibrant flavors. Prices are very moderate and probably even a bit cheaper than the most popular restaurants of a similar kind.

Coco – Burgers, tacos, chicken and Spanish cuisine. It’s interior/exterior is pretty hip. Warm and chewy pita bread was so awesome that I will indefinitely order again next time. Check out their craft beer. They also cater to gluten free diets.

JZ Peking Duck – For authentic chinese food, head to JZ Peking Duck for a night of hotpot and karaoke! In addition to the large portion of Roasted Duck, we also got fried mushrooms, eggplants & green beans and fried rice. Everything was fresh and tasty.

Bitanga – Try out some Ukrainian cuisine at this popular restaurant. The food is delicious, they have great service and the atmosphere is cosy with soft warm lighting and pleasant music. The bar is fully stocked with an impressive range of options from cocktails, liquors and beers.

Almaty Nightlife

If you are a nightlife lover, then of course you will fall in love with Almaty. You can find plenty of options to have fun at night in the city. Aside from restaurants and shopping malls, other nightlife options in Almaty involve being in bars and clubs. There is somewhat of a lack of other things to do in the city at night time outside of drinking. If amazing cocktails and live music is your thing, bring your best dancing shoes as you have a lot to explore in the night clubs of Almaty. 

Drinking with friends is a popular activity in Almaty, and the pub goers are very friendly. The price for drinks is pretty reasonable in general. The legal drinking age in Kazakhstan is 21 years old.

Recommendations for Nightlife Venues: 

Tantsy – On the weekends, the venue turns into a club with live music and great atmosphere. Get there before 11pm as it gets crowded after midnight. Find a table near the bar. The outside terrace is renovated each summer and is perfect for lounging around with friends. On the weekdays they have special food and drink deals like Steaks for $7. 

Karaoke bars are also big in the city which is definitely something to be experienced. You can rent a room with some friends at a low cost! Head over to Karaoke Ryba Moyey Mechty for a wild night of singing, food and cocktails. 

Little Brazil – For a little bit of spice, head to this Brazilian restaurant complete with all the music, dancers, entertainment you need to boop the night away. There is also karaoke and a buffet to tuck into.

In the evening, swing by the popular Barmaglot Bar to hear playlists from world-class DJ’s and sample craft cocktails with unusual ingredients like cuttlefish ink and indigenous Central Asian spices. 

Bla Bla Bar – Amazing club with three floors full of different kinds of bars, great music and love DJs on the weekend. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good time.

There are Party buses available to hire which include a mobile disco with a dance floor, a bar, DJ, pole dance and a variety of plasma panels & a toilet. They can accommodate up to 50 people. The bus is split into 2 sections: VIP room and the dance floor.

Mad Murphy’s – An Irish expat bar on Dostyk Avenue is very well known and a cosy tavern to meet some Europeans.

For the latest club and event dates, subscribe to @party__killers on Instagram. So grab a shot of Vodka and let’s go!

Things to do in Almaty

Almaty is a fantastic city with great activities to explore if you know where to look! Starting with culture, the city has many cultural sites worth checking out. 

• museums

  Most of the museums in Almaty are worth a visit and an interesting place to learn about the traditions and history of the culture. I recommend checking out the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan. I spent around 2 or 3 hours here perusing the various rooms. There was some very questionable taxidermy showing the native animals from Kazakhstan which was worth a giggle.  There was a lack of exhibit information written in English but I was blown away looking at the traditional yurts, clothing and artifacts of the nomadic people; a culture which fascinates me. There is also an Archeology Museum which features skeletal remains of a mammoth and various dinosaurs. The Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, located in Panfilov Park, displays all of the rare and unique folk instruments that are present in Kazakh culture. 

• Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

  Tickets to theatres and the opera are incredibly cheap compared to Europe, ranging from 2 to 100 USD . Not to worry, the price is not reflective of the quality. The country is rich with talent who participate and win various international competitions, representing the country on a global level with world famous operas and ballet stages. There is also a genre related to traditional Kazakh culture, such as national music and national dances. Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is well worth a visit with it’s grand setting and amazing programme. The building itself was built in 1934 and named after Kazakh poet, composer, and philosopher Abay Qunanbayuli. 

• Arts galleries

  Arts galleries are a great way of ​​exploring and understanding a country’s culture and influences. There are a number of galleries and exhibitions around the city. The Arvest Art Gallery is worth checking out and also offers drawing classes for adults and kids which are performed by famous local and international artists! For fine art inspiration of paintings, sculptures and more, check out Art Space KZ. You will also see many urban art work murals around the city by local graffiti artists. 

• article by Journal of Nomads

  The nature in Kazakhstan is truly outstanding and VAST! If you are looking for some solitude, this is the country for you. Hiking is very popular here and there are many trails you can follow a short drive from Almaty. You can camp along the trails if you want to spend a night under the stars in the mountains. Check out this article by Journal of Nomads for more hiking routes and information. There are also some horse riding clubs on the mountains. It’s becoming a popular attraction amongst locals and tourists and a great way to check out the scenery. 

• article by Journal of Nomads

  Want to go further afield? Grab a hire car and explore nature outside the city for a few days. There are 5 large lakes close to the city which are stunning. Big Almaty Lake is approximately 18 miles (28.5 km) from the city of Almaty. The lake is part of Alatau – Eliy National Park, surrounded by 3 stunning mountains – a great day trip! Kolsai Lakes make up a triad of lakes and are very popular destinations near Almaty. Surrounded by all of nature’s beauty and rare wildlife, visiting these lakes is a great option if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a serene atmosphere. The country is huge and there are enormous opportunities for travelling internally. Kazakhstan has an abundance of places to explore, landscapes of unseen beauty, mountains, deserts, lakes and steppes. Internal flights are very affordable and within a few hours, you can be in a completely different terrain.

• Shymbulak Mountain Resort

  Skiing and snowboarding is a must try if you live in Almaty. There are three ski resorts that are only 30-45 minutes drive and the price is low compared with the rest of the world. The most well known of the three is Shymbulak Mountain Resort which has well maintained trails, reliable car cars and ski lifts, powder snow, restaurants and a solid infrastructure. So convenient location. The snow runs are mainly red and black so experienced skiiers would enjoy this more.

• Medeu Skating Rink

  Another one for the winter sports enthusiast is Medeu Skating Rink. It’s situated approximately 5,548 ft. above sea level (that’s 1,691 meters!) and is the highest skating rink on earth. This skating rink and ski resort is a favorite for locals and visitors alike, and offers enough room for people to figure skate, speed skate, play hockey and have a ton of fun.

• parks

  Fancy some greenery? Head to one of the recreational parks in Almaty. We recommend Almaty Central Park boasting 247 acres of land, is great for all ages and offers a variety of activities. The First President’s Park is a popular place to visit and is the home to the famous annual festival “Almaty – My First Love.” Located in the southern part of Almaty and surrounded by breathtaking mountain views, this park boasts natural features as well as attractions. Outdoor BBQ are also available here. Panfilov Park located in Central Almaty, this park is a welcoming spot for people of all ages. This park is named after a group of brave Almaty soldiers who died fighting off Nazis in WWII. Zelyony Bazaar is right beside Panfilov park and is a great place to stock up on some organic local food and veg as well as clothing and homewares. 

• City Tour

  What better way to learn about Almaty than to follow an expert around on a city tour to learn all the ins-and-outs? There are several great tours in Almaty such as Almaty City Tour and Center Smart Tourism. 

• Hotels

  Brunches at hotels are a fun and affordable past-time I discovered whilst in Kazakhstan. For $20-30 USD, you can dine on a 4 or 5 star buffet and drink a lot of prosecco! I recommend checking out the Ritz Carlton and the Rixos for an afternoon of fun and elegance. 

• Kok-Tube Hill

  Take a fun-filled cable car ride to the top of Kok-Tube Hill where you will witness the city of Almaty, vineyards and mountains from a bird’s-eye perspective. It costs 2000 Tengge ($14) for the journey which I thought was expensive, so I vetoed it! If money is no object, jump aboard, if you’re on a budget, skip it my friends.

• Couchsurfing

  Couchsurfing is a great community platform to meet and stay with locals around the world for free! It’s very popular in Almaty with 16,000 hosts waiting for you to meet them. An awesome way to form life-long friendships, get to know other cultures and learn more about local traditions.

• International Women’s Club

  Almaty has a wonderful International Women’s Club. Despite the name it is open to both men and women. They have a guide, lots of activities and meet every Wednesday in the Ankara Intercontinental Hotel, 10.30am to 12.00pm.

Best Time to Visit Almaty

Almaty experiences four seasons in which the temperature varies between -5 and 29 Degrees Celsius. 

The summers are warm, dry, and mostly clear blue skies. There can be some occasional thunderstorms in the afternoon. June to September are the summer months and are a great time to visit for sightseeing and tourism. Although the summer is hot, the altitude makes the heat more bearable than at sea level or other places in Kazakhstan like Nur-Sultan. 

Spring and fall are colorful, crisp and lovely. 

The winters are generally close to freezing temperatures and partially cloudy. Almaty sees quite a bit of snow, but wind chill is not a factor due to the mountains. December to February is a great time to visit if you are looking to get involved with winter sports like skiing and ice skating. 

The wet season lasts from mid March to mid June with the wettest month being April with 80mm of rain. The city averages between 30-60% humidity throughout the year. The length of the day in Almaty varies significantly over the course of the year. In 2021, the shortest day is December 21, with 9 hours of daylight; the longest day is June 21, with 15.5 hours of daylight. 

An issue I had with Almaty was the traffic congestion and the air pollution it causes. In Almaty there are about half a million cars, plus around 200 thousand cars travel to the city from the countryside daily. The large stream of cars seriously affects the ecological situation with the main source of air pollution being the exhaust gases. As Almaty is located in a valley between the mountains, the pollution is not being able to escape which can make travelling around feel more smoggy and muggy.

Almaty for Families

Travelling to Almaty can be such an enriching experience for the whole family. There are so many things to do in Almaty for little ones and grown-ups alike. 

There are many daycare and schooling options available in the city. Many foreigners opt to place their children in International Schools as they are usually English speaking and have high quality education.

​​The Apple Tree International Pre-school hosts the best kindergarten with an international education system catering to 2-10 year olds.

Haileybury International School is the most well known and expensive international school which operates under the British curriculum. It has a sister school in Nur-Sultan and the schools host talented staff and a complex of facilities.

Almaty International School (AIS) is another leading international school. It offers an American based curriculum for high school students. Teachers are all native English speakers and fully certified. The facilities at AIS are top notch and cater from 3 years old to 12th grade.

Aya Fantasy World is an amusement park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. If you’re in the city and have a leisure day, it would be a great option to spend that day here with your family and children. There are a number of rides for children and some for adults to enjoy too!

Almaty Zoo is a lovely day out for the family featuring mammals, birds & reptiles in their natural habitats.

Verevochnyy Park Bambu is located just outside of the zoo. It is great for letting the kids run wild, play and climb the rope bridges in the trees.

Explore the flora and fauna in Almaty’s Botanical Garden. Here you will find lotus ponds, swans, tree-lined pathways and exotic plants from around the world.

Kids Lab is a soft playground for kids located on the third floor in Dostyk Shopping Plaza. A perfect solution for when you want to zip off to do some shopping and let the kids have fun!

Living in Almaty

Almaty Transportation

The region of Central Asia is relatively easy to reach by plane. The most popular and efficient airline is Air Astana. They offer regular flights to other internal cities as well as Europe, the Middle East, China and South-east Asia. Almaty is just 6 hours from Germany, 5 hours from Dubai and 8 hours from South East Asia. Head over to SkyScanner to check for the best flights to Kazakhstan. 

Once you arrive in the city, there are a number of ways to roam around the city:

Airport bus – The Airport bus is part of the city’s bus system. It picks up right outside the terminal and towards the right under a bus stop stand. It serves four bus routes into different parts of the city. The buses run roughly every 15 minutes from 6am to 9pm. 

Buses and Trams – Almaty has over 88 bus routes and 8 tram routes through the city. You can get nearly anywhere in Almaty by using the bus routes. To pay for the bus ride, you will need a top-up card, which you can buy for 400 Tenge ($1.20) at a kiosk or metro station.

Taxis and Private Cars – Download the Yandex taxi app which is similar to Uber and Grab. You will need a local SIM for this. It’s super convenient with the GPS feature and has set taxi fees for various vehicle types and the distance entered. You can get a pick up within 5-15 minutes. There are also official and semi-official taxis all over town. They are often simply hailed outside of a venue like the airport or the Esentai Mall. At the airport, be ready to get swarmed as you leave customs. Bargaining is a must, but don’t really do so unless your prospective driver actually speaks more than a few phrases of English. 

Local rides – There is a very informal and super common means of getting a lift all over Almaty which is simply raising your hand while standing on the side of the street. Almost instantly 5 cars will pull over, each just full of regular people about their business looking to make a few extra Tenge if they are going in your direction.

The Metro – The metro system is short with just 8 lines, but it is worth it to travel deep inside to see chandeliers and all the beautiful traditional art work and decor of each one. It is easy to take and efficient. Usually it is not full unless it is morning or afternoon rush hour. It’s not so convenient for older folks or if you have heavy luggage as there are a lot of stairs and not many escalators. It is worth seeing because it is spotless and constructed with stained glass, marble, ornate decorations and it is a real wonder to behold.

You should aim to move around the city before or after rush hours. In Almaty, this time is from 7:00 to 9:00 AM and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on weekdays. 

Drivers usually have one hand holding their mobile and the other on the horn so strap up when you are in a vehicle and be careful when crossing the road.

Fitness and Health

Almaty is abundant with health and fitness activities for all ages. There are countless hiking trails in the mountains and around the many lakes that surround the city. 

 The Kok Tobe gondola soars to Medeu Winter Park and beyond, year round. From the top, there is a children’s carnival area and many hiking trails and restaurants, and skiing and ice skating in winter. The country’s sports infrastructure is extremely developed thanks to the 2011 Winter Asian games hosted in Nur-sultan and Almaty. Ice palaces, skating stadiums, cycling centres and ski jumping centres are available around the city. 

There are many cycle routes around the city which is a great way to explore, get the thighs burning and enjoy the sun in the summer months. There are swimming and tennis clubs as well as several golf courses. There is horse trekking just outside the city. There are thermal hot springs at the foot of the mountains, sledging hills, and nordic ski trails.

If you are a gym bunny, head to Dostyk Plaza – one of the main shopping malls in the city center and visit Fitness Blitz. A membership will cost around $27 a month with opening hours from 7 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm Saturday and Sunday. There is another plan if you want to pay less and workout in the morning only. The facilities are clean, air conditioned with about 50 or 60 machines including treadmill, bench, leg press, etc. They have free weights as well as many exercise classes like yoga and cycling. The front desk receptionists speak English.

There is a big emphasis on spas that offering services like facials and massage. The Spa at the Rixos Hotel is also considered one of Almaty’s best. You’d be hard pressed to find more luxury than is offered at the Rixos as the spa has the feel and appearance reminiscent of Roman decadence with full facial, massage and body treatment services on offer. They also have a huge swimming pool, Vitamin bar and beauty salon amongst other amenities.

Whilst you are in Almaty, spend a few hours in one of the cities Banya’s which is a traditional Russian bathhouse. A banya typically includes a steam room with wooden benches, leafy branches that are used for massages, and buckets or pools of cold water with steam rooms and communal baths. The Alligator Club is considered Almaty’s shouldn’t miss Banyas. They are an important aspect in Kazakh life and the Alligator Club is among the country’s most elite spas. It offers traditional Russian and Finnish banya, spa therapy, a swimming pool and solarium.

Almaty People

Forget Borat, the fictitious, mankini-wearing media personality played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Kazakhstan is anything but that stereotype. It is the most economically and culturally advanced of the ‘Stan’ nations in the region. Whilst snippets of this film could be lightly understood in the traditional lifestyle of the countryside towns, in general the film has done the country a disservice in its reputation.

People are more open and liberal in Almaty compared with the rest of the country due to it being the business and cultural hub. I didn’t have culture shock when I arrived even though I speak neither Kazakh nor Russian, however speaking a little of either language will certainly go a long way. 

The people are generally warm and enthusiastic with travelers. Racism is low here and it’s beautiful to see how diverse ethnicities live harmoniously here. It’s common for young people who can speak English to approach you and ask about how you came to be in Almaty. Be yourself and don’t be shy to communicate with gestures and wrong words and accents. People generally want to understand you.

Although Kazakhs can be very welcoming and hospitable, I think the Soviet attitude has become quite ingrained in the culture and this can be visible through not trusting people and being too skeptical of someone’s motives. During the 19th century about 400,000 Russians flooded into Kazakhstan, and these were supplemented by about 1,000,000 Slavs, Germans, Jews, and others who immigrated to the region during the first third of the 20th century. During this time, Kazakhstan underwent a famine which resulted in 1.5 million people dying. I think Kazakh people are very resilient and will survive whatever life throws them. I don’t think they are easily offended, but they have been mistreated by others in their past.

Russian is now the most widely understood language in the country. The population of Kazakhstan is young. About half the population is under 30, and one-fourth is under the age of 15.  Life expectancy for men is 66 years, though life expectancy for women is much higher at 76. Kazakhstan’s population is currently growing at a rate of 1.21% per year. Farming occupies some one-fifth of the labour force. Many people left the countryside to move to cities such as Almaty and Nur-Sultan (previously Astana) to pursue corporate careers and more wealth.

Kazakhstan is an Islamic country, however the atmosphere of the city is not visibly dogmatic and the culture has an informal attitude to religion. There are some mosques and churches worth visiting around the city. 

There is no dress code; generally urban Kazakhs of both sexes are smartly dressed in modern clothes and only the expats wear shorts in town. It is common to see women in summer wearing revealing clothes. I was surprised to see how fashion and beauty conscious the women are here. When you venture into remote villages, you will see women wearing more traditional dresses and headscarves.

I have never seen homosexuals openly walking hand in hand as you do in Europe so I have the impression this is not tolerated, nor people kissing on the streets, so I assume it’s not done. 

In general, the country is not very democratic and freedom of speech is weak. None of the elections held in Kazakhstan have been considered free or fair by Western countries. Media independence is severely limited in Kazakhstan.

Almaty Insurance and Medical Care

General healthcare in Almaty is rated average at 47/100. The city has prepared 32 covid hospitals with a bed capacity of 7,200 beds.

The International Medical Center (IMC) has a few locations in town and provides Western style medical care, including Radiology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology as well as Orthopedics. There are specialists in different areas of medicine throughout the city. They offer annual care plans starting at 150,000 tenge ($350). 

HealthCity is another recommended medical network that combines an innovative Diagnostic Clinic and Personal Medicine Centers in Almaty. The focus of the HealthCity project is personal medicine; which is aimed at accurate diagnosis, an individual approach to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases based on international standards.

For severe emergencies, Dubai is a four hour flight away, and International Life Flight and AirMed provide air service from Almaty.

BUPA is one of the commonly used health insurance providers for expats in Kazakhstan. They offer different packages depending on your needs. If you are travelling a lot, it is worth looking into other Nomad Insurance providers such as WorldNomads which offer extremely flexible insurance plans for all ages, countries of travel and cover a host of activities such as adventure sports like skiing and scuba diving.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Almaty

Kazakhstan has the largest economy in Central Asia, and there are many exciting opportunities for expats wishing to find work there. The country is in need of highly-qualified professionals so if you have good qualifications and experience you should find it fairly easy to find employment. Foreigners move to Almaty for a range of careers from banking, insurance, diplomatic, construction, commerce, oil and education. 

Many of the expats I personally met came to Kazakhstan for teaching positions in International Schools. The contracts seem to be quite lucrative considering the average living wage of the city. 

It’s also fairly easy to find work as a local English tutor for children and adults if English is your native language. It is helpful if you have a degree in English language. Most freelance teaching positions are well paid and tutors are well looked after and respected. It’s difficult to get a work visa if you go down this route, however, so you may need to look into getting a residence permit or a student visa instead.

You can also earn good money working as an au pair or a nanny, again if you have a good grasp of the English language. 

A common reason for relocation is working for oil and mining companies such as Shell. Kazakhstan is an extremely oil and mineral rich country as well as having massive reserves of precious metals and fossil fuels. This has attracted a lot of wealth and interest from many areas of the world. 

Most job opportunities in Kazakhstan are centered in the major cities, like Astana or Almaty. The average work day is quite similar to that in most Western countries, with employees working fairly long hours, travelling for jobs and having to sort through a lot of bureaucracy and admin.

Having a high level of spoken Russian will assist you greatly in finding a career in the area you would like. 

Here are some resources for finding jobs in Almaty: 

https://kz.linkedin.com/jobs/almaty-jobs

https://we-xpats.com/en/job/as/kz/

https://kz.jooble.org

https://www.iagora.com/work/en/jobs-and-internships/for-english-speakers/kazakhstan/almaty