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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bishkek is 1.9% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Bishkek is 2.1% cheaper than Karaganda without rent, and 10.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.39 KGS 560

$8.56 ₸4,022

-25.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.33 KGS 1,869

$28.92 ₸13.6K

-26.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 KGS 506

$4.91 ₸2,306

17.52%

Cappuccino

$2.02 KGS 177

$1.85 ₸870

9.19%

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

$0.64 KGS 56.4

$0.69 ₸323

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KGS 31.15

$0.50 ₸235

-28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 KGS 106

$0.99 ₸466

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 KGS 150

$2.86 ₸1,344

-40.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 KGS 79.2

$0.97 ₸454

-7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KGS 43.70

$0.44 ₸206

13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 KGS 141

$1.31 ₸615

22.90%

Eggs

$1.75 KGS 153

$1.75 ₸823

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 KGS 693

$9.14 ₸4,296

-13.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 KGS 434

$4.09 ₸1,920

21.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 KGS 711

$7.23 ₸3,398

12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 KGS 97.5

$1.36 ₸641

-18.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KGS 162

$1.48 ₸696

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 KGS 178

$1.96 ₸922

4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 KGS 150

$1.98 ₸932

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 KGS 48.37

$0.56 ₸262

-1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 KGS 46.77

$0.41 ₸191

29.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KGS 51.7

$1.00 ₸468

-41.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KGS 41.73

$0.72 ₸336

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 KGS 151

$1.72 ₸807

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 KGS 681

$7.87 ₸3,701

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 KGS 106

$0.94 ₸440

28.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 KGS 172

$1.67 ₸785

17.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 KGS 19.23

$0.19 ₸88.6

15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.68 KGS 1,023

$11.78 ₸5,535

-0.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 KGS 123

$1.74 ₸817

-18.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 KGS 21.05

$0.42 ₸198

-42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 KGS 293

$4.51 ₸2,118

-25.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 KGS 70.1

$0.44 ₸208

81.82%

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

$37.6K KGS 3.3M

$19.1K ₸9.0M

96.89%

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

$34.5K KGS 3.0M

$24.8K ₸11.6M

39.41%

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

$34.71 KGS 3,041

$54.6 ₸25.7K

-36.42%

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

$6.75 KGS 591

$8.32 ₸3,912

-18.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.87 KGS 1,040

$13.11 ₸6,163

-9.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.71 KGS 3,654

$32.78 ₸15.4K

27.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.06 KGS 1,407

$11.64 ₸5,472

37.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 KGS 394

$4.63 ₸2,176

-3.02%

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

$200 KGS 17.5K

$236 ₸111.0K

-15.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,487 KGS 393.0K

$4,834 ₸2.3M

-7.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.87 KGS 3,229

$55.5 ₸26.1K

-33.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.41 KGS 3,539

$35.84 ₸16.8K

12.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 KGS 8,340

$88.6 ₸41.6K

7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 KGS 8,862

$86.1 ₸40.5K

17.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 KGS 43.4K

$334 ₸156.8K

48.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 KGS 31.5K

$213 ₸100.1K

68.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$906 KGS 79.3K

$574 ₸269.9K

57.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 KGS 55.3K

$402 ₸189.0K

57.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,674 KGS 146.6K

$975 ₸458.4K

71.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 KGS 99.5K

$673 ₸316.5K

68.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 KGS 39.7K

$533 ₸250.3K

-14.95%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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