Is Your City on the List? Surprising Shifts in the 2026 Housing Market

According to the Bureau of National Statistics, 2025 was marked by a significant surge in Kazakhstan's real estate market, with the cost of newly built apartments rising by an average of 16.6%. The most dynamic price spikes were observed in the country's major metropolises and regional centers. Almaty led the surge with a 22% increase, followed closely by Aktobe at 18.4% and Astana at 18.1%. Other cities seeing substantial growth included Konaev and Pavlodar, where prices rose by 17.1% and 16.1%, respectively.

While some regions saw double-digit growth, others experienced a more moderate climate. Karaganda, Semey, and Kokshetau saw modest increases ranging from 3.1% to 5.2%, while the markets in Zhezkazgan and Petropavlovsk remained remarkably stable throughout the year. By February 2026, the average price for a square meter of new housing in Kazakhstan reached 606,207 tenge.

The upward trend has continued into early 2026, with nationwide prices inching up another 0.2% in February compared to January. On a monthly basis, Kokshetau recorded the highest jump at 2.7%, followed by Atyrau at 1.8% and Semey at 1.6%. Meanwhile, the secondary market showed mixed results: while Atyrau, Turkistan, and Kostanay saw price increases of around 3%, secondary housing in Shymkent actually became more affordable, dropping by 2.2%.

Despite these fluctuations, a massive price gap persists between the major hubs and smaller regional cities. The current top 5 most expensive cities are led by Almaty at 719,605 tenge per square meter and Astana at 716,295 tenge. They are followed by Atyrau (535,152 tenge), Shymkent (534,822 tenge), and Ust-Kamenogorsk (530,773 tenge). On the other end of the spectrum, the most affordable housing can be found in Uralsk, where a square meter costs 326,000 tenge, as well as in Aktobe and Kokshetau.