Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Bishkek Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Bishkek

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $772 in Belem versus $898 in Bishkek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Belem versus $1,371 in Bishkek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,734 in Belem versus $1,844 in Bishkek.

Living in Belem costs roughly 14% less than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 42% lower, Bishkek 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 R$22.39
$6.20 KGS 542
-28.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.57 R$145
$21.18 KGS 1,852
34.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 R$31.15
$5.81 KGS 508
6.02%
Cappuccino
$1.59 R$8.07
$2.11 KGS 184
-24.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 R$4.71
$0.67 KGS 58.7
38.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 R$2.20
$0.33 KGS 28.67
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 R$8.12
$1.17 KGS 103
36.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 R$18.74
$1.68 KGS 147
120.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 R$5.86
$0.87 KGS 76.5
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 R$10.63
$0.50 KGS 43.39
320.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.24
$1.62 KGS 142
-24.07%
Eggs
$2.02 R$10.21
$1.72 KGS 150
17.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 R$53.9
$7.96 KGS 696
33.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 R$19.61
$4.94 KGS 432
-21.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.50 R$32.88
$8.08 KGS 707
-19.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 R$8.55
$1.08 KGS 94.4
56.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 R$8.40
$1.90 KGS 166
-12.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.25
$2.09 KGS 183
-41.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 R$7.35
$1.71 KGS 150
-15.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 R$4.66
$0.55 KGS 47.85
67.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 R$2.84
$0.53 KGS 46.67
5.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 R$5.22
$0.59 KGS 52.0
74.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$6.78
$0.47 KGS 41.46
185.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 R$12.04
$1.69 KGS 147
40.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.65 R$48.83
$7.98 KGS 698
20.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$6.88
$1.20 KGS 105
13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 R$22.42
$1.88 KGS 164
135.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 R$3.48
$0.24 KGS 21.03
187.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.60 R$109
$11.77 KGS 1,029
83.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.30
$1.39 KGS 122
-24.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 R$3.62
$0.24 KGS 21.08
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.12 R$46.14
$3.53 KGS 308
158.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.46
$0.83 KGS 72.6
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.2K R$81.7K
$38.1K KGS 3.3M
-57.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K R$146.3K
$34.2K KGS 3.0M
-15.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 R$557
$34.27 KGS 2,996
221.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.40 R$72.8
$6.76 KGS 591
113.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.23 R$107
$11.77 KGS 1,029
80.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.77 R$105
$41.99 KGS 3,671
-50.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.71 R$110
$15.78 KGS 1,380
37.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 R$31.99
$4.53 KGS 396
39.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.4 R$493
$196 KGS 17.2K
-50.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,133 R$15.9K
$4,510 KGS 394.3K
-30.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.96 R$167
$37.04 KGS 3,238
-11.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.72 R$145
$40.11 KGS 3,507
-28.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$379
$94.8 KGS 8,291
-20.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.69 R$211
$102 KGS 8,901
-59.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R$2,237
$486 KGS 42.5K
-9.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 R$938
$370 KGS 32.3K
-49.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 R$4,123
$916 KGS 80.1K
-11.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 R$2,314
$626 KGS 54.7K
-26.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,996 R$10.1K
$1,653 KGS 144.5K
20.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,420 R$7,186
$1,160 KGS 101.4K
22.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$392 R$1,982
$479 KGS 41.8K
-18.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.2
20.2
-39.60%

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

Last update for Belem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Belem and $486 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bishkek pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Belem vs $21.00 in Bishkek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $170 per month, with Bishkek cheaper across the board.

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
Belem vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bishkek cheaper than Belem?
Belem is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Belem or Bishkek?
On paper, Bishkek earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Belem and Bishkek?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Belem versus $486 in Bishkek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Belem runs roughly 84% less than in Bishkek. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $97.4 in Belem versus $196 in Bishkek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Belem or Bishkek?
At $772 in Belem versus $898 in Bishkek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Belem but tight or insufficient in Bishkek. The gap between the two cities makes Belem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Belem or Bishkek more family-friendly?
For families, Belem is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bishkek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Belem or Bishkek?
Safety-wise, Belem and Bishkek are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Belem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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