How Many Districts Astana Has
Astana has six administrative districts: Yesil and Nura on the left bank, and Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty and Sarayshyk on the right. The youngest, Sarayshyk, was formed on January 29, 2025 from the southern part of Almaty district.
Resale prices are highest in Yesil and lowest in Saryarka and Baikonur. Saryarka, Nura and Yesil have the most residents (about 340,000–347,000 each), and Nura is growing fastest.
Update, September 13, 2026. This article previously referred to five districts and gave prices as editorial ranges. It has been reworked: Sarayshyk was added, prices were replaced with Krisha.kz and Homsters data, and unverifiable estimates were removed.
Map of Astana's Districts
Yesil and Nura districts lie on the left bank of the Yesil River; Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty and Sarayshyk districts are on the right bank. The first LRT line runs from the airport through Yesil, then along the Yesil–Nura boundary to Baiterek and on through Sarayshyk to Nurly Zhol station. Tap a district to open its detailed overview.
Astana's Six Districts: Comparison Table
| District | Bank | Area | Character | Listings 1-room (median) | New-build 1-room (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yesil | Left | ≈200 km² | Administrative and business center, modern complexes | KZT 28.0m | KZT 27.00m |
| Nura | Left | ≈193 km² | New neighborhoods and active construction (since 2022) | KZT 25.0m | KZT 29.94m |
| Sarayshyk | Right | ≈70 km² | The youngest district (since 2025): railway station, 5 LRT stations, parks | KZT 23.4m | KZT 22.00m |
| Almaty | Right | ≈85 km² | Dense infrastructure, short distances | KZT 22.0m | KZT 18.69m |
| Baikonur | Right | ≈181 km² | Urban quarters and residential areas (since 2018) | KZT 20.6m | KZT 17.38m |
| Saryarka | Right | ≈68 km² | Historic center, established neighborhoods | KZT 19.5m | KZT 23.16m |
Area — rimo.kz and Wikipedia; listings — Krisha.kz median as of November 4, 2026 (calculated by Capital Realty); new builds — Homsters (October 2026).
Latest prices: according to Krisha.kz listings as of November 4, 2026, the median one-room apartment ranges from KZT 19.5m in Saryarka to KZT 28.0m in Yesil; KZT 26.3m on the left bank and KZT 21.5m on the right (all sale listings, Capital Realty calculation). Prices for each district are in its review; the banks are compared in "Astana's Left and Right Banks".
Population of Astana's Districts in 2026
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, Astana had 1,707,150 residents on October 1, 2026 — 67,974 more than at the start of the year (+4.2%). Nura (+39,211, +12.9%) and Yesil (+19,977, +6.2%) grew the most, mainly through people moving in: net migration was +34,883 and +16,794. Saryarka and Baikonur lost population over nine months — more people left these districts than moved in.
| District | Population on October 1, 2026 | Change since the start of 2026 | Of which net migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saryarka | 347,450 | −5,259 (−1.5%) | −7,448 |
| Nura | 343,347 | +39,211 (+12.9%) | +34,883 |
| Yesil | 340,629 | +19,977 (+6.2%) | +16,794 |
| Almaty | 258,833 | +7,846 (+3.1%) | +5,218 |
| Baikonur | 210,549 | −7,792 (−3.6%) | −8,690 |
| Sarayshyk | 206,342 | +13,991 (+7.3%) | +11,984 |
| Astana | 1,707,150 | +67,974 (+4.2%) | +52,741 |
Source: Bureau of National Statistics, "Change in the population of Astana" as of October 1, 2026 (release No. 18-05 of 02.11.2026), current records. Net migration is arrivals minus departures; the rest of the change is natural increase.
Microdistricts and Residential Areas by District
Locals often navigate by microdistricts and residential areas rather than administrative districts. Here is which district some of the well-known ones belong to. Microdistrict names did not change when the city was renamed: from 2019 to 2022 Astana was called Nur-Sultan, so older listings and documents show the same microdistricts under "Nur-Sultan".
| District | Microdistricts and residential areas |
|---|---|
| Yesil | Chubary, Zarechny, Telman, Prigorodny, EXPO-2017; cottage communities BI Village, Deluxe Town, Family Village and Garden Village |
| Nura | Karaotkel-2, Urker |
| Sarayshyk | Internatsionalny, Michurino, Kuygenzhar |
| Almaty | Microdistricts 1, 2, 2A, 4 and 5; Zheleznodorozhny |
| Baikonur | Zhastar, Ondiris |
| Saryarka | Samal, Agrogorodok |
District membership is determined from the objects' coordinates and district boundaries in OpenStreetMap (data as of October 4, 2026). The list is not exhaustive: not every microdistrict and residential area is mapped in OpenStreetMap, and district boundaries may change in 2026 — see the section on boundary changes.
The Left and Right Banks
The left bank is the capital's new center: Yesil's administrative and business quarters and fast-growing Nura. The right bank is the historic city: Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty district and Sarayshyk with Nurly Zhol station.
Based on sale listings, a median one-room apartment costs KZT 25.0–28.0m on the left bank and KZT 19.5–23.4m on the right. Detailed comparison: "Astana's Left and Right Banks".
Which Districts the LRT Connects
The first LRT line, opened on May 16, 2026, runs 22.4 km from the airport through Nura and Yesil to Nurly Zhol station in Sarayshyk. According to the National Bank, after the launch asking prices near stations rose more than 1.5–2 km from the line — by 4.6% to 10.5% depending on the segment and distance (details).
How District Boundaries Are Changing
- 2022: Nura district was formed from part of Yesil district.
- 2025: Sarayshyk was formed from the southern part of Almaty district.
- 2026 (draft): Saryarka may receive 369 ha of Nura's territory and Baikonur 61 ha of Almaty district. Property documents remain valid when boundaries change.
How to Choose a District
- Start with your routes: work, school, the railway station or airport — commuting time affects quality of life more than a district's prestige.
- Set a budget and compare median prices: the gap between the cheapest and most expensive district for a three-room apartment is about KZT 25m.
- Choose the housing type: new builds are concentrated on the left bank and in developing parts of the right bank, older housing in Saryarka and other right-bank districts.
- Check the specific building — documents, condition, and for new builds the permit to raise buyers' funds.
- For investment, calculate yield from the entry price and rent rather than the district's prestige — the calculator helps.
The most affordable options are in "The Cheapest Apartments in Astana", the overall price picture in the price index, and what everyday life in the capital costs — rent, transport, salaries — in "Cost of Living in Astana 2026".
Frequently Asked Questions
How many districts does Astana have?
Six: Almaty, Baikonur, Yesil, Nura, Sarayshyk and Saryarka. Sarayshyk was formed on January 29, 2025 from part of Almaty district, and Nura in 2022 from part of Yesil.
Which Astana districts are on the left bank and which on the right?
Yesil and Nura are on the left bank. Saryarka, Baikonur, Almaty district and Sarayshyk are on the right.
Which district is the center of Astana?
Astana has two centers. The historical center with established neighborhoods is on the right bank, in Saryarka district. The administrative and business center on the left bank — with Akorda, Baiterek and the ministries — belongs to Yesil district.
Which district of Astana has the largest population?
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, on October 1, 2026 Saryarka was the most populous (347,450), closely followed by Nura (343,347) and Yesil (340,629). Nura is growing fastest: +12.9% since the start of 2026. Sarayshyk (206,342) and Baikonur (210,549) have the fewest residents. Astana as a whole had 1,707,150.
Which district of Astana is best to live in?
There is no universal answer: it depends on your daily routes, budget and type of housing. Yesil is the administrative and business center with modern complexes and the most expensive resale apartments. Nura offers new neighborhoods and the first LRT line. Sarayshyk has the Nurly Zhol railway station, LRT stations and parks. Almaty district has dense infrastructure and short distances. Saryarka and Baikonur have established neighborhoods and the most affordable resale apartments.
Which district of Astana is the most expensive?
By median asking prices — Yesil: a one-room apartment costs about KZT 28.0 million (Krisha.kz, November 2026). Among new builds the highest average one-room price is in Nura (KZT 29.94 million, Homsters, October 2026).
Which district of Astana is the cheapest?
Based on sale listings — Saryarka (one-room about KZT 19.5 million) and Baikonur (about KZT 20.6 million). Among new builds the lowest average one-room price is in Baikonur (KZT 17.38 million), followed by Almaty district (KZT 18.69 million).
Which districts does the LRT run through?
Nura and Yesil on the left bank and Sarayshyk on the right, where the Nurly Zhol terminus is located.
Which district are the Samal, Chubary and Telman microdistricts in?
According to OpenStreetMap, Samal belongs to Saryarka, while Chubary and Telman belong to Yesil district. Other microdistricts and residential areas by district are listed in the table in this article.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sarayshyk district (in Russian) — ru.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Nura district (Astana) (in Russian) — ru.wikipedia.org
- Rimo.kz, 26.01.2026: Astana districts (in Russian) — rimo.kz
- Krisha.kz: Astana district boundaries to change (in Russian) — krisha.kz
- Homsters: Astana new-build market, October 2026 (in Russian) — info.homsters.kz
- Tengrinews: National Bank study on LRT and prices (in Russian) — tengrinews.kz
- OpenStreetMap: Astana district boundaries (data as of 04.10.2026) — openstreetmap.org
- Bureau of National Statistics: Astana population by district on October 1, 2026 (xlsx, in Russian) — stat.gov.kz
- Krisha.kz: apartment sale listings in Astana (snapshot as of 04.11.2026, medians calculated by Capital Realty) — krisha.kz