Which Districts Are on the Left and Right Banks
The left bank (south of the Esil River) comprises Yesil district and Nura: the capital's new center with administrative and business quarters and active new construction.
The right bank comprises Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty district and Sarayshyk: the historic city with established neighborhoods, Nurly Zhol railway station and renovation zones.
The division is informal but reflects real differences in housing stock and prices: the left bank has more new business- and premium-class complexes, the right bank more older housing, private homes and affordable apartments.
Astana's Six Districts by Bank
| District | Bank | Character | Median 1-room, resale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yesil | Left | Administrative and business center, modern complexes, large public spaces | KZT 27m |
| Nura | Left | A new district (formed in 2022), active construction, infrastructure developing in phases | KZT 24.5m |
| Sarayshyk | Right | The youngest district (since 2025): Nurly Zhol station, Presidential Park, 5 LRT stations | KZT 21.9m |
| Almaty | Right | Dense urban infrastructure, short distances | KZT 20.55m |
| Baikonur | Right | A mix of urban quarters and residential areas; bounded to the south by the right banks of the Esil and Akbulak | KZT 18.9m |
| Saryarka | Right | The historic center with established neighborhoods | KZT 18.5m |
Characteristics based on rimo.kz (26.01.2026), Wikipedia and Inform.kz; prices are median resale asking prices from Krisha.kz listings (2026).
Prices: How Much More the Left Bank Costs
On the resale market a median one-room apartment costs KZT 24.5–27m in left-bank districts and KZT 18.5–21.9m on the right bank. The KZT 5–8m gap holds for larger apartments too: a three-room apartment is about KZT 64m in Yesil and about KZT 37m in Saryarka.
New builds show a similar picture. According to Homsters for August 2026, an average one-room new-build apartment costs KZT 26.27m in Yesil and KZT 28.87m in Nura, versus KZT 17.35m in Almaty district and KZT 17.95m in Saryarka. The price per square meter depends mainly on class: about KZT 357k in economy, KZT 512k in comfort, KZT 720k in business and over KZT 1m in premium.
City-wide averages and methodology are in the Astana price index.
How the Banks Connect: the LRT and Transport
The key new link between the banks is the LRT line launched on May 16, 2026. It runs 22.4 km from the airport on the left bank through Nura and Yesil to Nurly Zhol station in Sarayshyk and has 18 stations. A ride costs KZT 200; a bus ride with a transport card costs KZT 110.
According to the National Bank, the LRT launch added 4.6% to 10.5% to asking prices near stations depending on the segment and distance, with the strongest effect on the Airport — Mangilik El section on the left bank. Details: "The LRT and Apartment Prices".
Where the City Is Growing
- The left bank is expanding south — in Nura and Yesil districts.
- The right bank develops through Almaty and Sarayshyk districts.
- Renovation: the master plan provides for renewing the Asan Kaigy Street corridor, Chubary, the Koktal and Lesozavod areas, part of the Prigorodny dachas and private housing on Kenesary and Moskovskaya streets.
- Scale: the master plan envisages about 30 million m² of new housing by 2035, mostly 6–12-storey buildings.
Based on Homsters (31.08.2026).
Where to Live and Where to Invest
- The left bank suits people working in the administrative and business center who are ready to pay for new buildings and infrastructure.
- The right bank is the choice for those who value a lower entry price, established infrastructure and the railway station; it also has renovation zones that may change individual neighborhoods.
- Investors should compare specific locations rather than banks: transport, building class, future construction nearby and tax on resale.
A detailed district comparison: "Astana Districts 2026".
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Astana districts are on the left bank?
Yesil district and Nura. The capital's administrative and business center and most new construction are located here.
Which Astana districts are on the right bank?
Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty district and Sarayshyk — the historic city, Nurly Zhol railway station and renovation zones.
Is it cheaper to buy an apartment on the left or the right bank?
On the right bank. By median resale asking prices (Krisha.kz, 2026), a one-room apartment costs KZT 24.5–27 million on the left bank and KZT 18.5–21.9 million on the right bank.
How do you get from the left bank to the right bank?
Besides road bridges and buses, since May 2026 the banks have been connected by the LRT: 18 stations from the airport to Nurly Zhol station, KZT 200 per ride.
Sources
- Homsters, 31.08.2026: Astana development, new districts and suburbs (in Russian) — info.homsters.kz
- Rimo.kz, 26.01.2026: Astana districts (in Russian) — rimo.kz
- Inform.kz, 15.05.2024: Sarayshyk district boundary (in Russian) — inform.kz
- Wikipedia: Baikonur district (in Russian) — ru.wikipedia.org
- Krisha.kz: where the cheapest apartments in Astana are (in Russian) — krisha.kz
- Homsters: Astana new-build market, August 2026 (in Russian) — info.homsters.kz
- Tengrinews: National Bank study on LRT and prices (in Russian) — tengrinews.kz