Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Osh Cost of Living Comparison Between Bishkek and Osh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Bishkek versus $565 in Osh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Bishkek versus $952 in Osh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,847 in Bishkek versus $1,338 in Osh.

Living in Bishkek is roughly 57% more expensive than Osh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bishkek 34% lower, Osh 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46 KGSΒ 566
$3.38 KGSΒ 296
91.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.00 KGSΒ 1,838
$14.78 KGSΒ 1,294
42.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 KGSΒ 489
$5.60 KGSΒ 490
-0.18%
Cappuccino
$2.01 KGSΒ 176
$1.40 KGSΒ 123
43.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 KGSΒ 59.8
$0.70 KGSΒ 61.0
-2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 KGSΒ 28.56
$0.21 KGSΒ 18.32
57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 KGSΒ 101
$1.22 KGSΒ 107
-4.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 KGSΒ 146
$1.17 KGSΒ 102
42.74%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 KGSΒ 83.7
$0.89 KGSΒ 77.6
7.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 KGSΒ 40.11
$0.41 KGSΒ 35.90
12.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 KGSΒ 138
$0.89 KGSΒ 77.7
76.40%
Eggs
$1.73 KGSΒ 151
$1.55 KGSΒ 136
11.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 KGSΒ 692
$5.83 KGSΒ 511
35.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.94 KGSΒ 432
$4.69 KGSΒ 411
5.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 KGSΒ 698
$7.32 KGSΒ 641
8.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 KGSΒ 96.5
$0.22 KGSΒ 19.20
400.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 KGSΒ 169
$0.88 KGSΒ 76.8
119.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 KGSΒ 176
$2.80 KGSΒ 245
-28.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 KGSΒ 148
$1.11 KGSΒ 97.2
52.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 KGSΒ 47.41
$0.37 KGSΒ 32.17
45.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 KGSΒ 42.60
$0.36 KGSΒ 31.13
36.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 KGSΒ 52.1
$0.22 KGSΒ 19.22
172.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 KGSΒ 41.25
$0.59 KGSΒ 51.6
-20.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 KGSΒ 155
$0.70 KGSΒ 61.6
152.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 KGSΒ 705
$5.00 KGSΒ 438
61.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 KGSΒ 102
$1.13 KGSΒ 98.8
2.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 KGSΒ 166
$1.50 KGSΒ 132
26.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 KGSΒ 19.25
$0.16 KGSΒ 13.86
37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 KGSΒ 1,026
$23.07 KGSΒ 2,019
-49.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.40 KGSΒ 123
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 KGSΒ 21.12
$0.19 KGSΒ 16.51
26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 KGSΒ 295
$1.46 KGSΒ 128
130.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 KGSΒ 74.1
$0.83 KGSΒ 72.8
2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K KGSΒ 3.4M
$22.7K KGSΒ 2.0M
69.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K KGSΒ 3.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.11 KGSΒ 2,985
$37.72 KGSΒ 3,301
-9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.92 KGSΒ 606
$4.08 KGSΒ 357
69.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.63 KGSΒ 1,017
$7.41 KGSΒ 649
56.95%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.99 KGSΒ 3,675
$25.80 KGSΒ 2,258
62.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 KGSΒ 1,362
$34.51 KGSΒ 3,021
-54.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48 KGSΒ 392
$2.31 KGSΒ 202
93.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 KGSΒ 17.3K
$91.3 KGSΒ 7,987
116.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,484 KGSΒ 392.5K
$1,851 KGSΒ 162.0K
142.21%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.79 KGSΒ 3,307
$17.33 KGSΒ 1,516
118.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.30 KGSΒ 3,440
$22.97 KGSΒ 2,010
71.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 KGSΒ 8,378
$57.0 KGSΒ 4,987
68.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 KGSΒ 9,051
$46.45 KGSΒ 4,065
122.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 KGSΒ 43.9K
$369 KGSΒ 32.3K
35.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 KGSΒ 32.1K
$183 KGSΒ 16.0K
100.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$899 KGSΒ 78.7K
$738 KGSΒ 64.6K
21.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 KGSΒ 54.1K
$462 KGSΒ 40.4K
33.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,609 KGSΒ 140.8K
$1,245 KGSΒ 109.0K
29.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,157 KGSΒ 101.3K
$1,027 KGSΒ 89.9K
12.68%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Bishkek
Osh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$461 KGSΒ 40.3K
$304 KGSΒ 26.6K
51.41%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Osh: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Bishkek and $369 in Osh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bishkek pays 51% 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: $21.00 in Bishkek vs $15.00 in Osh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $137 per month, with Osh 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 Osh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osh cheaper than Bishkek?
Osh is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bishkek or Osh?
Bishkek pays 51% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Bishkek and Osh?
Rent for a central apartment: $501 in Bishkek versus $369 in Osh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Bishkek versus $91.3 in Osh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bishkek and Osh?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Bishkek. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $800 enough for either Bishkek or Osh?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Osh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Bishkek or Osh more family-friendly?
For families, Osh 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.
Which city is safer, Bishkek or Osh?
Safety-wise, Bishkek and Osh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Osh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bishkek vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities