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

😐 Solo nomad: Bishkek is 95% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 99.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Bishkek is 145% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 117.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.18 KGS 541

$2.31 KGS 202

167.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.74 KGS 1,814

$9.13 KGS 798

127.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 KGS 499

Cappuccino

$2.00 KGS 175

$1.77 KGS 155

12.99%

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

$0.64 KGS 56.4

$0.59 KGS 51.9

8.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 KGS 28.78

$0.30 KGS 26.41

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 KGS 106

$1.17 KGS 103

3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 KGS 149

$1.70 KGS 148

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 KGS 83.6

$0.72 KGS 63.2

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 KGS 40.12

$0.22 KGS 19.17

109.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 KGS 137

$1.40 KGS 123

11.43%

Eggs

$1.73 KGS 151

$1.68 KGS 147

2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 KGS 699

$6.82 KGS 597

17.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 KGS 438

$3.93 KGS 343

27.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.73 KGS 676

$5.70 KGS 499

35.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 KGS 93.5

$0.77 KGS 67.4

38.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KGS 161

$1.36 KGS 119

36.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 KGS 177

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 KGS 149

$1.17 KGS 102

46.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 KGS 48.60

$0.55 KGS 47.88

1.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 KGS 46.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KGS 51.5

$0.33 KGS 28.44

78.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 KGS 44.93

$0.54 KGS 47.48

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 KGS 153

$1.82 KGS 159

-3.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 KGS 718

$5.22 KGS 457

57.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 KGS 105

$1.16 KGS 102

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 KGS 167

$2.24 KGS 196

-14.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 KGS 19.18

$0.22 KGS 19.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 KGS 1,012

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 KGS 121

$1.31 KGS 114

6.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 KGS 21.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 KGS 298

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 KGS 68.6

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

$38.4K KGS 3.4M

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

$34.6K KGS 3.0M

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

$34.70 KGS 3,035

$38.85 KGS 3,398

-10.68%

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

$6.93 KGS 606

$4.41 KGS 386

57.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 KGS 1,014

$10.00 KGS 874

15.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 KGS 3,677

$15.33 KGS 1,341

174.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 KGS 1,373

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 KGS 392

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

$196 KGS 17.1K

$91.2 KGS 7,981

114.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,487 KGS 392.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.23 KGS 3,256

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.69 KGS 3,472

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 KGS 8,228

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 KGS 9,138

$34.56 KGS 3,023

202.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 KGS 42.8K

$225 KGS 19.7K

117.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 KGS 31.9K

$171 KGS 15.0K

113.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 KGS 79.1K

$287 KGS 25.1K

215.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 KGS 53.9K

$291 KGS 25.4K

112.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,661 KGS 145.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,147 KGS 100.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 KGS 39.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Bishkek: March 2, 2026

Last update for Karakol: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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