Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Karakol Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Karakol

😐 Solo nomad: Bishkek is 114.2% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 103.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bishkek is 114.1% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 118.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31 KGS 552
$2.32 KGS 203
171.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.91 KGS 1,828
$8.92 KGS 780
134.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 KGS 512
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.03 KGS 177
$1.77 KGS 155
14.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 KGS 56
$0.59 KGS 51.8
8.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 KGS 28.73
$0.28 KGS 24.47
17.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 KGS 106
$1.12 KGS 97.6
8.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 KGS 149
$1.67 KGS 146
2.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 KGS 76.7
$0.76 KGS 66.4
15.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.5 KGS 43.66
$0.24 KGS 21.06
108.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 KGS 142
$1.39 KGS 122
16.55%
Eggs
$1.73 KGS 151
$1.63 KGS 142
6.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 KGS 703
$6.9 KGS 603
16.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 KGS 417
$3.96 KGS 346
20.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.9 KGS 691
$5.69 KGS 497
38.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 KGS 97.2
$0.82 KGS 72
35.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 KGS 163
$1.35 KGS 118
37.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 KGS 179
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 KGS 150
$1.15 KGS 101
49.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 KGS 48.36
$0.59 KGS 51.5
-6.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 KGS 46.27
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 KGS 47.46
$0.33 KGS 28.82
63.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 KGS 44.35
$0.56 KGS 48.92
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74 KGS 152
$1.81 KGS 158
-3.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.94 KGS 694
$5.23 KGS 457
51.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 KGS 102
$1.16 KGS 102
0.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 KGS 173
$2.33 KGS 204
-15.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 KGS 21.07
$0.19 KGS 16.25
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.83 KGS 1,035
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 KGS 118
$1.32 KGS 115
2.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 KGS 21.03
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 KGS 307
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 KGS 68.4
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K KGS 3.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K KGS 2.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.88 KGS 2,962
$38.96 KGS 3,406
-13.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.91 KGS 604
$4.42 KGS 386
56.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.86 KGS 1,037
$9.53 KGS 833
24.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.3 KGS 3,611
$15.33 KGS 1,341
169.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.94 KGS 1,394
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.51 KGS 394
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$194 KGS 17K
$92.8 KGS 8,108
109.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,459 KGS 389.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.76 KGS 3,213
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31 KGS 3,525
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 KGS 8,107
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 KGS 9,077
$34.52 KGS 3,018
200.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 KGS 42.9K
$224 KGS 19.6K
118.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 KGS 31.6K
$171 KGS 14.9K
111.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$912 KGS 79.7K
$286 KGS 25K
218.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 KGS 54.5K
$281 KGS 24.5K
122.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,549 KGS 135.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,079 KGS 94.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bishkek
Karakol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$441 KGS 38.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
0
-

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

Last update for Bishkek: October 27, 2025

Last update for Karakol: October 28, 2025

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