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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $716 per month in Aktau vs $886 in Bishkek, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,187 per month in Aktau vs $1,355 in Bishkek, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,657 per month in Aktau vs $1,825 in Bishkek, rent included.

Aktau is about 19% cheaper than Bishkek, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aktau and Bishkek are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 47% lower, Bishkek 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.02 ₸4,892

$6.39 KGS 558

56.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.56 ₸19.3K

$21.07 KGS 1,842

87.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ₸4,348

$5.77 KGS 504

54.25%

Cappuccino

$2.26 ₸1,103

$2.01 KGS 176

12.44%

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

$0.55 ₸271

$0.64 KGS 56.3

-14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸215

$0.32 KGS 28.30

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸585

$1.17 KGS 102

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₸656

$1.68 KGS 147

-20.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₸585

$0.89 KGS 77.9

34.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₸189

$0.46 KGS 40.17

-15.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₸833

$1.60 KGS 140

6.87%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸701

$1.79 KGS 156

-19.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 ₸4,336

$7.89 KGS 690

12.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 ₸1,902

$5.01 KGS 438

-22.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₸3,713

$7.67 KGS 671

-0.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸655

$1.06 KGS 92.6

26.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₸972

$1.94 KGS 170

2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₸1,026

$2.01 KGS 176

4.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₸1,190

$1.74 KGS 152

40.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸286

$0.59 KGS 51.7

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸247

$0.49 KGS 42.77

4.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ₸631

$0.59 KGS 51.4

118.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₸417

$0.48 KGS 41.72

77.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.41 ₸1,178

$1.71 KGS 149

40.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 ₸4,382

$7.86 KGS 687

14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₸316

$1.21 KGS 106

-46.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸377

$1.96 KGS 171

-60.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸62.1

$0.22 KGS 19.20

-40.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 KGS 1,014

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₸456

$1.38 KGS 121

-32.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸301

$0.22 KGS 19.10

181.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,256

$3.53 KGS 309

30.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸244

$0.85 KGS 74.1

-41.18%

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

$20.3K ₸9.9M

$38.3K KGS 3.3M

-47.02%

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

$24.7K ₸12.1M

$34.2K KGS 3.0M

-27.86%

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

$40.96 ₸20.0K

$33.53 KGS 2,931

22.16%

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

$7.78 ₸3,801

$6.94 KGS 607

12.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.42 ₸4,601

$11.95 KGS 1,045

-21.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.76 ₸16.0K

$42.58 KGS 3,722

-23.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.95 KGS 1,394

Cinema Ticket

$2.82 ₸1,376

$4.56 KGS 399

-38.16%

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

$125 ₸60.9K

$201 KGS 17.6K

-37.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,306 ₸1.1M

$4,559 KGS 398.6K

-49.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₸28.6K

$36.62 KGS 3,202

59.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.88 ₸17.0K

$39.83 KGS 3,482

-12.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.8 ₸31.1K

$94.8 KGS 8,284

-32.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ₸37.8K

$102 KGS 8,922

-24.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 ₸123.6K

$484 KGS 42.3K

-47.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₸88.5K

$365 KGS 31.9K

-50.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₸219.0K

$911 KGS 79.6K

-50.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₸176.7K

$636 KGS 55.6K

-43.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$775 ₸378.3K

$1,651 KGS 144.4K

-53.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$620 ₸302.8K

$1,155 KGS 101.0K

-46.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$521 ₸254.5K

$481 KGS 42.0K

8.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-60.40%

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

Last update for Aktau: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Aktau versus $484 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 8% 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 $40.00 in Aktau versus $21.00 in Bishkek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $169 – 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 24% 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 $1,075 per month in Aktau and $1,328 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 $40.00 in Aktau and $21.00 in Bishkek. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $716, than in Bishkek at $886. 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 $716 versus $886 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.