Is cash still widely used?
In Almaty and Astana, card payments are common and growing rapidly. Outside major cities, cash is still the dominant payment method — rural areas, bazaars, and smaller towns rely almost entirely on tenge in hand.
ATMs and withdrawing cash
ATMs are widely available in Almaty and Astana. Halyk Bank and Kaspi Bank ATMs accept foreign cards reliably.
- Fees are around 500 KZT per withdrawal for foreign cards
- ATMs are available in regional cities but scarce in rural Kazakhstan
- Kaspi Bank’s app is very popular locally but requires a Kazakh number to set up
Card acceptance
Good in major cities. Visa and Mastercard work at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops in Almaty and Astana. In smaller towns, bazaars, and rural areas, cash is expected.
Tips for travelers
- Carry tenge for bazaars, local transport, and regional travel
- USD can be exchanged easily at banks and exchange offices in cities
- Russian rubles are also sometimes accepted near the Russian border
- Keep enough cash before long overland journeys through rural areas