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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Bishkek vs $789 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,507 per month in Bishkek vs $1,295 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Bishkek vs $1,802 in Aktau, rent included.

Bishkek costs about 23% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bishkek and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Bishkek 30% lower, Aktau 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 KGS 587

$11.07 ₸4,990

-39.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.54 KGS 2,495

$44.02 ₸19.8K

-35.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.92 KGS 517

$9.65 ₸4,348

-38.65%

Cappuccino

$2.48 KGS 217

$2.58 ₸1,163

-3.88%

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

$0.76 KGS 66.5

$0.77 ₸348

-1.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 KGS 35.31

$0.49 ₸221

-18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 KGS 117

$1.28 ₸579

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 KGS 173

$1.56 ₸703

26.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 KGS 90.8

$1.47 ₸661

-29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 KGS 35.89

$0.43 ₸196

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 KGS 150

$1.91 ₸860

-10.47%

Eggs

$1.68 KGS 147

$1.75 ₸788

-4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 KGS 676

$10.12 ₸4,561

-23.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 KGS 392

$4.36 ₸1,967

2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.77 KGS 767

$8.77 ₸3,950

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 KGS 124

$1.45 ₸652

-2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 KGS 161

$2.27 ₸1,024

-18.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 KGS 182

$2.39 ₸1,075

-12.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 KGS 141

$2.85 ₸1,286

-43.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 KGS 49.90

$0.61 ₸277

-6.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 KGS 41.24

$0.57 ₸255

-17.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KGS 61.5

$1.47 ₸661

-52.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KGS 52.5

$0.99 ₸445

-39.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 KGS 182

$2.70 ₸1,216

-22.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.88 KGS 776

$9.46 ₸4,264

-6.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 KGS 124

$0.71 ₸322

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 KGS 168

$0.86 ₸388

123.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 KGS 21.10

$0.18 ₸82.3

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 KGS 1,012

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 KGS 76.5

$1.13 ₸508

-23.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 KGS 42.17

$0.68 ₸305

-29.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 KGS 499

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 KGS 84.2

$0.58 ₸262

65.52%

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

$29.5K KGS 2.6M

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

$33.5K KGS 2.9M

$30.7K ₸13.8M

8.93%

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

$50.6 KGS 4,422

$45.97 ₸20.7K

10.03%

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

$5.62 KGS 491

$8.08 ₸3,641

-30.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.88 KGS 1,038

$10.57 ₸4,765

12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 KGS 4,886

$35.93 ₸16.2K

55.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.46 KGS 1,264

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 KGS 501

$3.11 ₸1,402

84.57%

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

$223 KGS 19.5K

$144 ₸64.9K

54.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,761 KGS 678.5K

$2,633 ₸1.2M

194.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 KGS 4,923

$67.2 ₸30.3K

-16.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.86 KGS 3,835

$40.31 ₸18.2K

8.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 KGS 7,921

$70.3 ₸31.7K

28.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.0 KGS 7,957

$89.3 ₸40.3K

1.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 KGS 52.6K

$319 ₸143.9K

88.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 KGS 35.6K

$193 ₸86.9K

111.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 KGS 96.0K

$539 ₸242.9K

103.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 KGS 61.2K

$388 ₸174.7K

80.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,802 KGS 157.6K

$779 ₸351.1K

131.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,182 KGS 103.3K

$630 ₸284.0K

87.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 KGS 43.0K

$559 ₸251.7K

-11.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.22

44.43%

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

Last update for Bishkek: September 6, 2026

Last update for Aktau: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $602 in Bishkek versus $319 in Aktau. 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 14% 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 $29.00 in Bishkek versus $44.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $202 – 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

Bishkek vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bishkek costs about 23% 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 $1,449 per month in Bishkek and $1,183 in Aktau. 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 $29.00 in Bishkek and $44.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% 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 $789, than in Bishkek at $966. 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 $789 versus $966 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.