Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Bishkek Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Bishkek

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Aktau vs $979 in Bishkek, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,342 per month in Aktau vs $1,501 in Bishkek, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,880 per month in Aktau vs $2,022 in Bishkek, rent included.

Aktau is about 18% cheaper than Bishkek, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aktau and Bishkek are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 41% lower, Bishkek 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.12 ₸4,987

$6.88 KGS 601

61.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.80 ₸20.1K

$28.57 KGS 2,498

56.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 ₸4,553

$5.87 KGS 513

73.08%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₸1,174

$2.50 KGS 218

4.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₸350

$0.76 KGS 66.5

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₸225

$0.40 KGS 35.10

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₸588

$1.40 KGS 123

-6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₸720

$1.92 KGS 168

-16.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 ₸669

$1.04 KGS 90.9

43.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₸201

$0.42 KGS 36.67

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₸858

$1.65 KGS 145

15.76%

Eggs

$1.75 ₸785

$1.71 KGS 150

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 ₸4,445

$7.42 KGS 649

33.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 ₸1,921

$4.59 KGS 402

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.81 ₸3,949

$8.93 KGS 781

-1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₸684

$1.35 KGS 118

13.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 ₸1,053

$1.89 KGS 166

24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₸1,090

$2.01 KGS 176

20.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₸1,278

$1.57 KGS 137

81.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ₸279

$0.61 KGS 53.7

1.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$0.47 KGS 41.40

23.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 ₸667

$0.76 KGS 66.1

96.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸415

$0.62 KGS 54.0

48.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 ₸1,230

$2.11 KGS 185

29.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 ₸4,163

$9.02 KGS 788

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₸329

$1.41 KGS 123

-48.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₸417

$1.92 KGS 168

-51.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸69.8

$0.24 KGS 21.06

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 KGS 1,011

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 ₸494

$0.89 KGS 77.9

23.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₸308

$0.47 KGS 41.22

46.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 KGS 509

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 ₸284

$0.90 KGS 78.6

-30.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.1K KGS 2.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.3K ₸14.0M

$33.3K KGS 2.9M

-5.98%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.48 ₸20.4K

$50.3 KGS 4,397

-9.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.21 ₸3,680

$5.86 KGS 512

40.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.04 ₸4,950

$11.85 KGS 1,036

-6.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.14 ₸16.7K

$54.2 KGS 4,738

-31.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 KGS 1,280

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₸1,393

$5.65 KGS 494

-44.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$147 ₸65.9K

$222 KGS 19.4K

-33.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,698 ₸1.2M

$7,924 KGS 692.7K

-65.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 ₸30.4K

$55.2 KGS 4,822

22.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.78 ₸18.3K

$42.47 KGS 3,713

-3.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 ₸32.8K

$92.1 KGS 8,049

-20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₸40.7K

$89.0 KGS 7,784

2.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ₸147.3K

$591 KGS 51.7K

-44.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₸89.6K

$409 KGS 35.7K

-51.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 ₸248.3K

$1,092 KGS 95.5K

-49.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸173.2K

$707 KGS 61.8K

-45.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$814 ₸365.1K

$1,774 KGS 155.1K

-54.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$644 ₸288.7K

$1,208 KGS 105.7K

-46.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$569 ₸255.2K

$504 KGS 44.1K

12.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.22

-30.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aktau: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Aktau versus $591 in Bishkek. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Aktau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Aktau versus $29.00 in Bishkek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $176 – making Bishkek the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aktau vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bishkek costs about 22% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,207 per month in Aktau and $1,469 in Bishkek. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Aktau and $29.00 in Bishkek. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Bishkek – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Bishkek at $979. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bishkek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $805 versus $979 in Bishkek. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aktau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bishkek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.