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Money Kazakhstan


The Currency of Kazkahstan is called the Tenge. The Tenge is divided into 100 Tiyn, however the Tiyn hasn’t been used in many years due to the value of the tenge. Since 1 Tenge is already under a third of a cent.

The word tenge means scales in most Turkic languages, which is quite interesting as many currencies around the world have used traditional words for scales to name their currencies. For example the Pound, Lira , Peso and Shekel. The Russian word for money, Dengi, is also related to the Turkic word Tenge.

When Kazakhstan left the Soviet Union in 1991, Kazakhstan continued to use the Soviet Ruble and then the Russian Ruble until November 1993 when the Kazakhstan Tenge was introduced.


Coins of the Kazakhstan Tenge

The current coins in circulation are the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Tenge. Quite often in shops if you are owed less than 20 tenge change they’ll give you a box of matches instead of the smaller valued coin. For example, at the moment the 1 Tenge coin is worth less than a quarter of a US cent.


Notes of the Kazakhstan Tenge

The notes of the Kazakhstan Tenge are some of the most colourful and beautiful in the world. Currently in circulation are the 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 Tenge notes.


Controversy with language

Of all the Central Asian republics Kazakhstan still has the highest percentage of native Russian speakers. Even a significant number of ethnic Kazakhs still prefer to speak in the Russian language rather than Kazakh. Because of these factors and many more, language has continued to be a sensitive issue in Kazakhstan and this is even reflected in the Kazakhstan Tenge.

In 2006 the Kazakhstan Central Bank printed millions of 2000 and 5000 tenge notes where the Kazakh word for bank was misspelled ("банкі" banki was misspelled "бан қ і" ban q i).


ATMs and exchange in Kazakhstan

Being the most developed and economically strongest country in Central Asia has its advantages and one of them is that ATMs in Kazakhstan are as common as in any western country, likewise most restaurants and shops accept cards for payment as well. Also, because the Tenge is a fully floating convertible currency there are exchange shops in every city and town and offer great rates for most major currencies and even some more obscure ones.

One thing to note is that the Tenge is still a relatively volatile currency and when large changes in value occur, money changers and banks have been known to stop services while they grasp the quickly changing value of the Kazakhstan currency.


Digital currency

In a not very surprising move, Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia to announce they plan on creating their own digital currency, however this is but a dream at the moment and it still remains to be seen when this might occur and what the final product will look like.






Example Tours

5 Stans Summer Tour
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June 19, 2024
18 days
US$2680.00
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Kazakhstan Polygon Tour
Journeying from the country's capital to the former capital, via some of the craziest nuclear testing sites on the planet.

July 6, 2024
6 days
US$1230.00
Kazakhstan Polygon Tour
Bookings Closing Soon
Kazakhstan Polygon Budget Tour
Putting Chernobyl to shame, this is your chance to see the Soviet nuclear testing sites of Northern Kazakhstan.

July 8, 2024
2 days
US$830.00
Kazakhstan Polygon Budget Tour
Bookings Closing Soon
Kazakhstan Polygon Autumn Tour
You might have heard of Chernobyl, but have you ever heard of the Semepalatinsk Testing Sites? Hundreds of dystopian kilometres in the north of Kazakhstan, you've got to see it to believe it.

Sept. 4, 2024
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US$995.00
Kazakhstan Polygon Autumn Tour
Nomad Games Astana 2024
The epitome of Central Asia, this completely unique world event showcases dozens of sports that you'll never have heard of, plus some that you might be familiar with, but with a Central Asian nomadic twist.

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Nomad Games Astana 2024
4 Stans Autumn Tour
Lakes, canyons and gorges, cosmpolitan and ancient cities, Soviet relics, odd architecture, yurts and way more. This tour of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan covers a huge variety of what Central Asia has to offer.

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US$2830.00
4 Stans Autumn Tour
5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour
A great snapshot into 5 amazing countries.

Sept. 7, 2024
23 days
US$3825.00
5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour
Bookings closed!
5 Stans Autumn Original Tour
Taking the scenic route from Astana to Ashgabat, this tour covers everything that makes Central Asia so special, including the World Nomad Games and Turkmenistan Independence Day.

Sept. 7, 2024
27 days
US$4325.00
5 Stans Autumn Original Tour
Bookings Closing Soon
5 Stans Autumn Mega Tour
Bishkek to Bukhara, Astana to Ashgabat, and everything in between. This epic tour will take you right across Central Asia through canyons and gorges, cosmopolitan cities, across land borders, and even to a fiery crater.

Sept. 7, 2024
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US$4945.00
5 Stans Autumn Mega Tour
Bookings Closing Soon
5 Stans Summer Tour
This is the tour for anyone who wants to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer. Can be done all in one whack, or in smaller sections, whatever you like!

June 19, 2025
18 days
US$2680.00
5 Stans Summer Tour

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