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Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Karaganda

😐 Solo nomad: Bishkek is 12.8% more expensive than Karaganda without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bishkek is 8.7% more expensive than Karaganda without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.41 KGS 560
$8.13 ₸4,150
-21.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.04 KGS 1,839
$28.9 ₸14.8K
-27.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.74 KGS 502
$5.04 ₸2,571
13.89%
Cappuccino
$2.02 KGS 176
$1.92 ₸983
5.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 KGS 55
$0.66 ₸336
-4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 KGS 30.6
$0.5 ₸255
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 KGS 106
$0.96 ₸492
26.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 KGS 148
$2.97 ₸1,516
-43.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 KGS 83.4
$0.97 ₸493
-2.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 KGS 40.84
$0.47 ₸241
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 KGS 137
$1.24 ₸635
25.81%
Eggs
$1.8 KGS 157
$1.76 ₸900
2.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.94 KGS 695
$9.17 ₸4,683
-13.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 KGS 422
$4.13 ₸2,110
16.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.68 KGS 671
$7.01 ₸3,576
9.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.06 KGS 92.7
$1.37 ₸697
-22.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 KGS 170
$1.43 ₸732
36.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 KGS 183
$1.93 ₸986
8.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 KGS 155
$1.96 ₸1,002
-9.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 KGS 51.3
$0.56 ₸285
5.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 KGS 46.72
$0.4 ₸207
32.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 KGS 48.28
$1.02 ₸519
-46.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 KGS 44.45
$0.75 ₸380
-32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.7 KGS 148
$1.8 ₸919
-5.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.11 KGS 709
$6.72 ₸3,432
20.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 KGS 101
$1 ₸509
16.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 KGS 165
$1.67 ₸853
12.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 KGS 19.16
$0.19 ₸97.8
15.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.84 KGS 1,035
$11.87 ₸6,059
-0.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 KGS 121
$1.81 ₸925
-23.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 KGS 21.11
$0.46 ₸235
-47.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 KGS 297
$4.34 ₸2,213
-21.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 KGS 68.8
$0.48 ₸246
64.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K KGS 3.3M
$18.8K ₸9.6M
98.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K KGS 2.9M
$25.1K ₸12.8M
33.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.56 KGS 3,022
$54.8 ₸28K
-36.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.78 KGS 593
$8.09 ₸4,128
-16.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.87 KGS 1,038
$13.04 ₸6,657
-8.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.27 KGS 3,608
$32.69 ₸16.7K
26.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.88 KGS 1,388
$11.8 ₸6,021
34.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 KGS 406
$4.39 ₸2,239
5.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 KGS 17.5K
$234 ₸119.5K
-14.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,529 KGS 396K
$4,786 ₸2.4M
-5.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.77 KGS 3,302
$57.3 ₸29.2K
-34.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.08 KGS 3,504
$35.73 ₸18.2K
12.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93 KGS 8,129
$88.1 ₸44.9K
5.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 KGS 9,004
$85.4 ₸43.6K
20.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$486 KGS 42.5K
$337 ₸172K
44.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 KGS 32.4K
$212 ₸108K
75.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 KGS 79.6K
$581 ₸296.8K
56.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 KGS 54.1K
$388 ₸197.9K
59.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,529 KGS 133.7K
$991 ₸505.9K
54.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,112 KGS 97.2K
$655 ₸334.3K
69.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bishkek
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$431 KGS 37.7K
$470 ₸240.1K
-8.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
16.12
25.31%

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

Last update for Bishkek: November 29, 2025

Last update for Karaganda: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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