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: $910 in Belem versus $970 in Bishkek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,369 in Belem versus $1,500 in Bishkek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,828 in Belem versus $2,030 in Bishkek.

Living in Belem costs roughly 6% less than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 34% lower, Bishkek 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.79 R$24.68
$6.79 KGS 593
-29.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.23 R$99.1
$28.78 KGS 2,516
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 R$35.58
$5.81 KGS 508
18.93%
Cappuccino
$1.92 R$9.89
$2.49 KGS 217
-22.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$5.05
$0.75 KGS 65.6
30.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 R$2.42
$0.38 KGS 32.86
23.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 R$7.78
$1.40 KGS 123
7.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 R$12.18
$1.90 KGS 166
24.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 R$6.64
$1.04 KGS 90.6
24.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 R$12.78
$0.42 KGS 36.62
490.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 R$6.85
$1.73 KGS 151
-23.12%
Eggs
$2.17 R$11.17
$1.70 KGS 149
27.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.71 R$44.88
$7.45 KGS 651
16.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$22.22
$4.71 KGS 412
-8.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.25 R$37.34
$8.56 KGS 748
-15.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 R$11.93
$1.41 KGS 123
64.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 R$7.10
$1.79 KGS 157
-22.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 R$7.18
$2.02 KGS 177
-31.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 R$8.27
$1.55 KGS 135
3.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 R$5.17
$0.59 KGS 51.2
69.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 R$2.89
$0.47 KGS 41.52
19.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 R$6.54
$0.74 KGS 65.1
71.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.30
$0.58 KGS 50.7
144.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 R$13.61
$2.02 KGS 176
30.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.54 R$49.16
$9.27 KGS 811
2.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R$7.10
$1.38 KGS 121
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 R$25.50
$2.00 KGS 175
147.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 R$4.67
$0.24 KGS 21.05
279.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.15 R$176
$11.50 KGS 1,005
196.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 R$5.90
$0.83 KGS 72.8
38.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 R$5.92
$0.48 KGS 41.87
139.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 R$43.12
$5.62 KGS 491
48.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 R$6.37
$0.96 KGS 83.9
29.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K R$118.7K
$30.1K KGS 2.6M
-23.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K R$158.4K
$32.7K KGS 2.9M
-6.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.5 R$492
$50.6 KGS 4,425
88.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.18 R$57.6
$5.81 KGS 508
92.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.00 R$155
$12.03 KGS 1,052
149.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.31 R$110
$54.3 KGS 4,748
-60.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.83 R$200
$14.55 KGS 1,272
166.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86 R$40.49
$5.62 KGS 492
39.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 R$553
$221 KGS 19.3K
-51.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,321 R$17.1K
$7,696 KGS 672.8K
-56.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.77 R$164
$55.7 KGS 4,871
-42.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.20 R$223
$43.80 KGS 3,830
-1.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 R$414
$91.7 KGS 8,018
-12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.0 R$335
$91.5 KGS 7,998
-28.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$511 R$2,631
$580 KGS 50.7K
-11.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 R$1,401
$416 KGS 36.3K
-34.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 R$4,345
$1,075 KGS 94.0K
-21.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 R$2,613
$717 KGS 62.7K
-29.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,941 R$10.0K
$1,773 KGS 155.0K
9.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 R$7,181
$1,195 KGS 104.4K
16.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belem
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$407 R$2,096
$502 KGS 43.9K
-18.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
20.22
-43.22%

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

Last update for Belem: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Belem and $580 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bishkek pays 23% 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: $19.00 in Belem vs $29.00 in Bishkek. Groceries flip the comparison at $217 vs $176, with Bishkek cheaper for home cooking.

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 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Belem or Bishkek?
On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Bishkek. 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: $511 in Belem versus $580 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 197% 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 $107 in Belem versus $221 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 living in Belem or in Bishkek?
At $910 in Belem versus $970 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 7% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Belem vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities