Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $970 in Bishkek versus $528 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,500 in Bishkek versus $775 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,030 in Bishkek versus $1,021 in Calamba.

Living in Bishkek is roughly 84% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bishkek 29% lower, Calamba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 KGS 593

$3.91 ₱245

73.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.78 KGS 2,516

$12.20 ₱763

135.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 KGS 508

$2.80 ₱175

107.50%

Cappuccino

$2.49 KGS 217

$1.78 ₱111

39.89%

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

$0.75 KGS 65.6

$0.56 ₱35.07

33.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KGS 32.86

$0.32 ₱19.98

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 KGS 123

$0.88 ₱55.2

59.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 KGS 166

$1.64 ₱102

15.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 KGS 90.6

$1.68 ₱105

-38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 KGS 36.62

$1.11 ₱69.4

-62.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 KGS 151

$1.01 ₱63.2

71.29%

Eggs

$1.70 KGS 149

$2.10 ₱131

-19.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.45 KGS 651

$5.05 ₱316

47.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 KGS 412

$3.36 ₱210

40.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.56 KGS 748

$7.70 ₱482

11.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 KGS 123

$2.20 ₱138

-35.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 KGS 157

$1.61 ₱100

11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 KGS 177

$2.31 ₱145

-12.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 KGS 135

$1.05 ₱65.4

47.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 KGS 51.2

$1.70 ₱106

-65.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 KGS 41.52

$1.73 ₱108

-72.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 KGS 65.1

$0.66 ₱41.13

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KGS 50.7

$0.50 ₱31.26

16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 KGS 176

$2.94 ₱184

-31.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 KGS 811

$8.65 ₱541

7.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 KGS 121

$0.91 ₱56.8

51.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 KGS 175

$2.00 ₱125

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 KGS 21.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.50 KGS 1,005

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 KGS 72.8

$0.82 ₱51.4

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 KGS 41.87

$0.25 ₱15.65

92.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 KGS 491

$1.97 ₱123

185.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 KGS 83.9

$0.94 ₱58.8

2.13%

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

$30.1K KGS 2.6M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

38.07%

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

$32.7K KGS 2.9M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

69.28%

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

$50.6 KGS 4,425

$144 ₱8,992

-64.80%

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

$5.81 KGS 508

$17.74 ₱1,110

-67.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.03 KGS 1,052

$23.94 ₱1,497

-49.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 KGS 4,748

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 KGS 1,272

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 KGS 492

$5.12 ₱320

9.77%

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

$221 KGS 19.3K

$135 ₱8,450

63.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,696 KGS 672.8K

$10.9K ₱684.6K

-29.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 KGS 4,871

$29.37 ₱1,836

89.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.80 KGS 3,830

$19.59 ₱1,225

123.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 KGS 8,018

$71.4 ₱4,462

28.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 KGS 7,998

$55.8 ₱3,492

63.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 KGS 50.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 KGS 36.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 KGS 94.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$717 KGS 62.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,773 KGS 155.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,195 KGS 104.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 KGS 43.9K

$260 ₱16.3K

92.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.22

6.75

199.56%

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

Last update for Bishkek: August 29, 2026

Last update for Calamba: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bishkek pays 93% 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 Bishkek vs $12.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $174 per month, with Calamba 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

Bishkek vs Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 93% higher in Bishkek, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $221 in Bishkek versus $135 in Calamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Calamba – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $29.00 in Bishkek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $528 in Calamba versus $970 in Bishkek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calamba but tight or insufficient in Bishkek. The gap between the two cities makes Calamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Calamba 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.

Safety-wise, Bishkek and Calamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.