Many people in Kazakhstan use a prepaid SIM for making phone calls. SIM cards that also include data are more expensive, but only work out around 30 KZT; less than 10 cents a day. A lot of people don’t often have this included however, as they have internet at home and most bars, restaurants and public spaces have wifi access.
Which provider to choose?
The main phone providers are KCell, Beeline and Tele2, but there are plenty of other mobile phone companies operating in Kazakhstan so it’s worth shopping around to see where you can get the best deal.
How much will it cost?
Costs for calls and data in Kazakhstan are generally cheaper than in most Western countries. You can expect to spend around 1500 KZT ($4.50 USD) for a SIM which will give you a standard amount of data, calls and text messages. If you use a lot of data, you can get separate add-on plans where you spend anything from 2000 KZT($5.80 USD)- 5000 KZT($15 USD), depending on the amount of data you need.
For more information on providers, head to our Telecom Directory for Kazakhstan.
International Calls
You can cut down on the cost of making international calls by purchasing a pre-paid card, which offers cheap rates for calling abroad. They’re usually sold at mobile-phone shops, kiosks and petrol stations and you can use them with either a landline or mobile phone. All you need to do is scratch off the back to reveal the PIN and dial the local access number provided. Instructions are then given in English. Prices range from 12 KZT ($0.03 USD) per minute for calls to the U.S to 95 KZT ($0.28 USD) for calls to some European countries.
Things to remember
Make sure that if you’re calling from a cell phone, be that to a landline or mobile number, you must dial ‘8’ and then the city code for a landline or the cell company code for a mobile, followed by the phone number. Also remember to bring your passport or I.D. when you go to purchase a phone or SIM card.