Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Bishkek

For one person, living is cheaper in Aktau: $790 a month against $977 in Bishkek, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bishkek outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

38

Cost of Living Index in Aktau
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Aktau Living Index
47

Cost of Living Index in Bishkek
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Bishkek Living Index

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Aktau

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$790

/mo nomad

Bishkek

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan

$977

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aktau and in Bishkek

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aktau and in Bishkek actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $790 per month in Aktau vs $977 in Bishkek, rent included.

Aktau $790
Bishkek $977

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Aktau vs $1,505 in Bishkek, rent included.

Aktau $1,315
Bishkek $1,505

A family of three spends $1,840 per month in Aktau vs $2,032 in Bishkek, rent included.

Aktau $1,840
Bishkek $2,032

Aktau is about 19% cheaper than Bishkek, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Aktau and Bishkek are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 42% lower, Bishkek 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 ₸5,001

$6.80 KGS 595

62.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.54 ₸19.7K

$29.12 KGS 2,547

49.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₸4,491

$5.70 KGS 499

73.68%

Cappuccino

$2.59 ₸1,177

$2.45 KGS 215

5.71%

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

$0.79 ₸356

$0.75 KGS 65.8

5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₸222

$0.41 KGS 35.69

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₸620

$1.39 KGS 121

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₸720

$1.92 KGS 168

-17.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₸669

$1.03 KGS 89.9

42.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸228

$0.41 KGS 36.15

21.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 ₸860

$1.73 KGS 151

9.83%

Eggs

$1.69 ₸768

$1.76 KGS 154

-3.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₸4,542

$7.73 KGS 676

29.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₸1,885

$4.62 KGS 404

-9.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.58 ₸3,892

$8.74 KGS 764

-1.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₸693

$1.42 KGS 124

7.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,054

$1.83 KGS 160

26.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 ₸1,063

$2.01 KGS 176

16.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 ₸1,262

$1.56 KGS 137

78.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₸301

$0.61 KGS 53.4

8.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.51 KGS 44.33

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ₸673

$0.71 KGS 62.3

108.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₸413

$0.57 KGS 49.86

59.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₸1,176

$2.07 KGS 181

25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.37 ₸4,249

$9.05 KGS 792

3.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₸354

$1.37 KGS 120

-43.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸417

$1.93 KGS 169

-52.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₸70.4

$0.24 KGS 21.01

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.55 KGS 1,010

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₸495

$0.89 KGS 78.2

22.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸291

$0.44 KGS 38.34

45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.56 KGS 486

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 ₸301

$0.98 KGS 85.6

-32.65%

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

$29.8K KGS 2.6M

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

$31.4K ₸14.2M

$33.2K KGS 2.9M

-5.32%

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

$45.62 ₸20.7K

$49.36 KGS 4,317

-7.58%

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

$8.07 ₸3,661

$5.75 KGS 503

40.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.70 ₸4,851

$11.91 KGS 1,042

-10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.05 ₸16.4K

$53.9 KGS 4,712

-33.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.66 KGS 1,282

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 ₸1,373

$5.59 KGS 489

-45.80%

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

$146 ₸66.2K

$217 KGS 19.0K

-32.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,678 ₸1.2M

$7,810 KGS 683.1K

-65.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 ₸30.5K

$56.3 KGS 4,923

19.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.80 ₸18.1K

$43.87 KGS 3,837

-9.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 ₸32.5K

$91.8 KGS 8,026

-21.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 ₸40.4K

$89.9 KGS 7,861

-0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸148.9K

$599 KGS 52.4K

-45.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 ₸87.8K

$410 KGS 35.9K

-52.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₸246.6K

$1,030 KGS 90.0K

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₸178.2K

$718 KGS 62.8K

-45.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$806 ₸365.7K

$1,811 KGS 158.4K

-55.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 ₸297.8K

$1,209 KGS 105.8K

-45.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$553 ₸250.8K

$498 KGS 43.5K

11.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.1

-30.35%

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

Last update for Aktau: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Aktau

$200 25.3%

Bishkek

$176 18% 11.9% $24

Accommodation & Living

Aktau

$193 24.5%

Bishkek

$410 42% 112% $217

Eating Out

Aktau

$164 20.8%

Bishkek

$116 11.9% 29.1% $48

Clothing & Footwear

Aktau

$121 15.3%

Bishkek

$127 13% 5.2% $6.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Aktau

$64 8.2%

Bishkek

$67 6.9% 4.1% $2.6

Sport & Entertainment

Aktau

$42 5.3%

Bishkek

$65 6.7% 54.5% $23

Getting Around

Aktau

$4.9 * 0.6%

Bishkek

$16 1.6% 217% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $328 in Aktau versus $599 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 11% 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 $44 in Aktau versus $29 in Bishkek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $176 – making Bishkek the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇰🇿 Aktau

🇰🇬 Bishkek

🕒 Local time

10:34 10:34 AM

11:34 11:34 AM

1 h ahead of Aktau

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

273,830

1,012,500 Capital

💱 Currency

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

Kyrgyzstani Som KGS сом

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR

100 KGS = 1.14 USD

100 KGS = 1.02 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KGS, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇿 Kazakhstani Tenge (₸)

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 454 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 506 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

Kyrgyzstani Som exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 87.46 KGS (100 KGS = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 97.66 KGS (100 KGS = 1.02 EUR).

USD to KZT in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Aktau Bishkek 1,890 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Aktau
Bishkek

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,185 per month in Aktau and $1,466 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $328 there versus $599 in Bishkek.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Aktau and $29 in Bishkek. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Bishkek – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

Families tend to lean toward Aktau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.