Rents: the Seasonal Peak
Update, September 13, 2026. This issue has been reworked: editorial district price and rent ranges were replaced with Krisha.kz, Homsters and BNS data, and mortgage and LRT information was corrected.
The start of the academic year traditionally drives rental demand. According to Krisha.kz, on August 1–18 median rents in Astana rose:
| Apartment | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-room | KZT 220k | KZT 240k | +9.1% |
| Two-room | KZT 300k | KZT 320k | +6.7% |
| Three-room | ≈KZT 500k | ≈KZT 500k | unchanged |
Source: Krisha.kz, August 1–18, 2026. Across Kazakhstan the median rent rose about 3.8% over the same period.
According to the BNS, the average rent in Astana was KZT 5,796 per m² per month in July (+2.7% m/m) and KZT 6,079 in August (+4.9%). A guide for people looking for housing: "Moving to Astana".
Prices: Primary Grows, Resale Lags Inflation
According to BNS data cited by Halyk Finance, in July primary housing in Kazakhstan rose 14.6% year on year and resale 9.5% with inflation at 10.2%; in real terms resale fell 0.7%. Astana's primary market grew 19.1% y/y. Housing deals in July totaled 37,200 — 6.5% fewer than a year earlier and 4.9% fewer than in June. According to the BNS, a square meter of Astana new builds cost KZT 739,033 in July (unchanged m/m) and resale KZT 731,722 (+0.6%); in August — KZT 747,116 and KZT 740,356.
| New-build class | July 2026 | August 2026 | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | KZT 325,800 | KZT 356,800 | +9.52% |
| Comfort | KZT 509,393 | KZT 512,291 | +0.57% |
| Business | KZT 735,326 | KZT 720,452 | −2.02% |
| Premium | KZT 1,063,824 | KZT 1,060,789 | −0.29% |
Source: Homsters, price per m² in Astana new builds.
In August six new complexes were added to the Homsters catalog: IGILIK, Nexpo Grand, HORIZON, Zhas Otau, ULAGAT and Anyz Avenue. District price comparison: the Astana price index.
Mortgages: the Umai Program Announced
In late August Otbasy Bank announced that applications for Umai, a program for women aged 18–65, would open on August 31: 14.8% on the bridge loan, falling to 5% after saving 50%, a down payment from 20% in Astana and Almaty, and loans up to KZT 50m. Since July 1 the effective rate on new mortgage loans has been capped at 20%. All programs: "Subsidized Mortgages 2026".
The LRT: the National Bank Estimated the Price Effect
In August the National Bank published an estimate of the LRT's effect on apartment asking prices: compared with a control group 1.5–2 km away, the effect ranged from +4.6% to +10.5% depending on the segment and distance, strongest on the Airport — Mangilik El section. No clear dependence on distance to the station was found. Analysis: "The LRT and Apartment Prices".
August Takeaways
- For owners — the rental season lets you let a one-room apartment near the top of the market and lock in a tenant for the academic year.
- For tenants — rates peak in season; if possible, look for housing before or after the seasonal rise.
- For resale buyers — prices are not rising in real terms and deal numbers are falling: an argument for careful comparison and negotiation.
What Next
On September 4 the National Bank cut the base rate to 16.25%, and by September 15 returns are due for income from selling housing in 2025 — details in the September digest. Next year's outlook: "2027 Price Outlook".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did rents in Astana rise in August 2026?
According to Krisha.kz, over August 1–18 the median one-room rent rose from KZT 220,000 to 240,000 (+9.1%) and two-room rent from KZT 300,000 to 320,000 (+6.7%).
Why do rents rise in August?
Because of the start of the academic year: students and families actively search for housing before September, and demand for small apartments grows.
Are resale prices rising?
In nominal terms, yes: across Kazakhstan resale rose 9.5% year on year in July. But with inflation at 10.2%, prices fell 0.7% in real terms.
Sources
- Krisha.kz: what is happening with rents (in Russian) — krisha.kz
- Kursiv, 26.08.2026: resale cheaper in real terms (Halyk Finance) (in Russian) — kz.kursiv.media
- Homsters: Astana new-build market, August 2026 (in Russian) — info.homsters.kz
- Tengrinews, 10.08.2026: July housing and rent prices per BNS (in Russian) (in Russian) — tengrinews.kz
- 24.kz, 09.09.2026: August housing and rent prices per BNS (in Russian) (in Russian) — 24.kz
- Forbes Kazakhstan, 27.08.2026: the Umai program (in Russian) — forbes.kz
- Krisha.kz: mortgage rate cap from July 1, 2026 (in Russian) — krisha.kz
- Tengrinews: National Bank study on LRT and prices (in Russian) — tengrinews.kz
- National Bank of Kazakhstan, 04.09.2026: base-rate decision (in Russian) — nationalbank.kz