Coworking Spaces in Almaty and Astana for Foreign Citizens: How to Choose a Convenient Place to Work

Have you arrived in Kazakhstan for work, relocation, or just to try out life as a digital nomad? One of the first practical questions is where to work so that you're not distracted, have decent internet, convenient transportation and cafes nearby, and your workday doesn't turn into a hunt for a free power outlet.

A coworking space solves this problem: you come to a place that already has Wi-Fi, workstations, power outlets, meeting rooms, and people who are also working. For a foreign citizen, this is especially convenient because you don't need to rent an office right away, buy furniture, or deal with lengthy contracts.

However, when choosing a coworking space in Almaty and Astana, it's best not to focus only on price. For a foreigner, location, the commute from your accommodation, opening hours, the ability to make calls, clear navigation, payment with foreign cards, and up-to-date information in local services are more important. In Kazakhstan, it's worth using not only Google Maps but also 2GIS for this.

There are plenty of cafes in Almaty and Astana, but not every cafe is suitable for working all day. In one it might be noisy, in another there are few power outlets, and in a third the tables are uncomfortable or the Wi-Fi is weak. If you have calls, deadlines, and work documents, this format quickly becomes tiring.

A coworking space provides a more predictable environment. Usually there are workstations, stable internet, call zones, meeting rooms, a kitchen, a printer, lockers, air conditioning, and a reception desk. You can come for a day, take a flexible tariff, or get monthly access if the place suits you.

For foreigners, a coworking space is also useful as an adaptation point. It's easier to meet entrepreneurs, relocators, IT specialists, freelancers, and people who already know the city in these spaces. Sometimes it's through a coworking space that you quickly understand where to live, how to get around the city, where to open a bank account, where to buy a SIM/eSIM, and which services actually work in Kazakhstan.

A coworking space is suitable if you work regularly, hold online meetings, need silence, and want a clear work rhythm. It's a good choice for remote work, freelancing, startups, consultations, and client meetings.

A cafe is convenient for short work sessions of 1-2 hours when you need to reply to emails or change your environment. But a cafe is rarely suitable for a full workday: noise, music, conversations, occupied outlets, and unstable Wi-Fi can get in the way.

A library can be good for focused work without calls, but it's not always convenient for video meetings. A hotel or business center works for business trips and meetings, but it's often more expensive and less flexible. If you've come to the city for several weeks or months, a coworking space usually offers the best balance of convenience, infrastructure, and freedom.

In Kazakhstan, many people use 2GIS to search for organizations, routes, building entrances, opening hours, phone numbers, and reviews. For a foreigner, this is an important local nuance: don't rely only on Google Maps.

2GIS is often more convenient because it shows organization cards, photos, reviews, opening hours, phone numbers, links, building entrances, floors, and public transport routes. This is especially useful in Almaty and Astana, where a coworking space may be located inside a business center, shopping center, or large complex, and the entrance may not be obvious.

Before visiting, it's best to cross-check the information in several places: the official coworking website, Instagram or another social network, the 2GIS card, recent reviews, and a direct call or WhatsApp. Prices, opening hours, available seats, and access conditions can change, so it's better to do the final check on the day of your visit.

1. Install the 2GIS app or open the web version.
2. Type "coworking Almaty", "coworking Astana", or simply "coworking" near your district into the search bar.
3. Open the map and look not only at the rating but also at the location relative to your accommodation, metro, bus stops, business districts, and meeting points.
4. Open the coworking card: check photos, recent reviews, opening hours, phone number, website, WhatsApp, building entrance, and floor.
5. Build a route by public transport, on foot, and by taxi. It's important to look not only at the distance but also at the actual travel time.
6. Save 3-5 options to your favorites and message the administrators in advance.
7. Ask whether you can come for a trial day, if there are available seats, whether they accept foreign cards, and if any documents are required for entry.

This approach helps you avoid traveling across the city to a place that is already closed, full, or unsuitable for your work format.

In Almaty, the terrain, traffic jams, distance from accommodation, and proximity to business infrastructure matter. The most convenient coworking space is not necessarily the most beautiful or cheapest, but the one you can actually get to without getting tired.

The Bostandyk district is often convenient for work: there is a lot of business activity, cafes, services, banks, business centers, and transport routes. For many foreigners, areas around Timiryazev, Dostyk, Al-Farabi, Gagarin streets and near the metro are convenient if your daily life revolves around the center or business meetings.

Medeu and Almaly districts are convenient because they are closer to the center, pedestrian streets, cafes, parks, and cultural life. If you live in the center and don't want to travel much, a coworking space in these districts can be a practical solution.

When choosing a district in Almaty, look not only at the address but also at the city's elevation, rush-hour traffic, taxi availability, proximity to the metro, and how convenient it is to get home in the evening.

In Astana, distances feel different: the city is spacious, the weather can be harsh, and in winter walking routes are not always comfortable. That's why it's especially important for a foreigner to choose a coworking space near their accommodation or key business points.

The Yesil district is often convenient for expats, entrepreneurs, and specialists who work with business centers, government organizations, international companies, or modern residential complexes. Areas around Mangilik El, Expo, the Botanical Garden, and large business centers can be practical if your life is centered on the left bank.

But there is no universal "best district." If you live on the right bank, a daily trip to the left bank can eat up a lot of time. Therefore, the main criterion is not the prestige of the district, but the route: how many minutes you actually spend in the morning and evening, how easy it is to call a taxi, and whether there are bus stops, cafes, ATMs, and shops nearby.

Check the Wi-Fi. Don't trust the description alone: on a trial day, open your work services, make a test call, and check that the connection doesn't drop in the area where you'll be sitting.

Look for power outlets near the workstations. It's a small thing, but if you work on a laptop all day, it becomes critical.

Ask about meeting rooms, phone booths, or quiet zones. If you have regular Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls, a regular open-space spot may not work.

Evaluate the tables, chairs, lighting, and temperature. A beautiful interior doesn't always mean comfortable work. Spend at least a few hours there to understand whether your back gets tired, whether it's too dark, or whether it's too noisy.

Check the opening hours. Some spaces operate only during business hours, while others offer evening or 24/7 access. If you work with Europe, the USA, or Asia, the schedule may be more important than the price.

Ask about payment. Find out whether they accept foreign Visa/Mastercard, cash, QR codes, transfers, or local apps. Conditions vary by specific coworking space.

Ask about documents. On your first visit, they may ask for your passport or another document to grant building access. This is normal, but it's better to know in advance.

If your work involves calls, don't choose a coworking space based only on photos. Be sure to ask whether there are separate phone booths, meeting rooms, or quiet rooms. An open space may look beautiful, but if people are talking nearby every hour, focused work won't be possible.

For Zoom meetings, four things matter: stable internet, a space without echo, normal lighting, and the ability to speak without disturbing others. On a trial day, try making a short test call or at least record audio with headphones.

For focused work, silence, a comfortable desk, chair, fresh air, and the absence of constant movement nearby are more important. If you need to write, calculate, code, design, or work with documents, choose a spot away from the entrance, the kitchen, and meeting rooms.

1. Determine your base point: where you live, where meetings take place, and where you travel from most often.
2. Open 2GIS and find coworking spaces within a 20-30 minute commute.
3. Compare not only the price but also the route, schedule, reviews, photos, building entrance, and infrastructure.
4. Make a short list of 3-5 options.
5. Message via WhatsApp or call: ask about day access, a trial day, available seats, payment with a foreign card, required documents, and the language spoken.
6. Come for a trial day or at least a few hours.
7. Test the internet, noise level, power outlets, chair comfort, atmosphere, ability to make calls, and the trip back.
8. Only after that, buy a subscription.

If you work every day, don't choose a coworking space based only on the lowest price. The commute, stress, noise, and inconvenient schedule can cost more than the difference in tariff.

Day access is suitable if you've just arrived, are testing districts, or work from a coworking space irregularly. It's a safe format: you can check the place without long-term commitments.

A monthly subscription makes sense if you've already done a trial day, understand the commute, and have checked the internet, atmosphere, and schedule. This is especially relevant if you work 4-5 days a week and want a stable workspace.

Don't buy a subscription right after looking at photos. The coworking space may look beautiful but be inconvenient for you personally: too far from your accommodation, noisy, few call zones, or inconvenient access hours.

The first mistake is using only Google Maps. In Kazakhstan, it's useful to check 2GIS separately because it's often more convenient for viewing entrances, floors, phone numbers, opening hours, and routes.

The second mistake is choosing based on price rather than the commute. If you spend an extra hour on the road every day, a cheap tariff no longer looks like a good deal.

The third mistake is not clarifying access conditions. Sometimes the coworking space is inside a business center with a pass system, and they may ask for a document at the entrance.

The fourth mistake is not checking the call zone. If you work with clients or a team, you may need a meeting room every day.

The fifth mistake is buying a monthly subscription immediately. First, test the place on a real workday, preferably during the hours when you usually work.

1. Official websites and public pages of coworking spaces in Almaty and Astana — to verify service formats, schedules, addresses, and infrastructure.
2. 2gis.kz — organization cards, routes, reviews, photos, phone numbers, and building entrances.
3. Official websites and city transport services of Almaty and Astana — to check routes and transport accessibility.
4. Public materials about the districts of Almaty and Astana, business centers, and infrastructure — for a general understanding of convenient areas for foreigners.

Prices, schedules, availability, payment methods, and access rules may change. Before visiting, always verify the latest information in 2GIS, on the official coworking website, and via a direct call or WhatsApp.