Dont want to carry too much or too little. Whats the average cash people carry when travelling around Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan can be surprisingly cheap, but don’t underestimate costs if you want excursions. I spent $65 per day on average, including a nice Airbnb in Almaty for $30, daily meals for $15, and some cultural outings like opera tickets ($10). Day trips to Shymbulak ski resort added $25 for lifts and equipment. A weeklong trip ran about $450 including intercity trains. For a balanced budget that lets you mix comfort with activities, $60-$70 is realistic.
My budget in Kazakhstan was closer to $90 daily because I preferred private tours. In Almaty, hotels were $50, dinners in good restaurants were $15-$20, and I did a horseback riding day trip in the steppe for $60. Flights inside the country were also cheap ($40-$50 one way). Public transport is dirt cheap, so the only real expenses are tours and mid-range dining. With $90 a day, you can travel comfortably and still enjoy plenty of experiences.
I’d say Kazakhstan is mid-range affordable. I averaged $60-$70 a day staying in 3-star hotels for $35, eating out at restaurants for $8-$10, and using taxis via Yandex for $3-$5 a ride. Museums in Astana were $2-$4, so hardly a dent. The big spend was a guided tour to Altyn-Emel National Park for $100, but that was a special day. Most days, $70 was enough for comfort without cutting corners.
I traveled Kazakhstan on around $40 a day as a backpacker. Hostels in Almaty were $8-$12, hearty meals like plov or lagman were $3-$5, and metro rides just 25 cents. Long-distance trains between Almaty and Astana cost $20-$25. Hiking in the mountains like Big Almaty Lake was basically free. I splurged $15 on a day trip minivan to Charyn Canyon. If you’re comfortable with hostels and cheap food, you can easily stay under $50 daily.