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

😐 Solo nomad: Karaganda is 1.9% more expensive than Bishkek without rent, and 14.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Karaganda is 2.1% more expensive than Bishkek without rent, and 9.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.56 ₸4,022
$6.39 KGS 560
33.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.92 ₸13.6K
$21.33 KGS 1,869
35.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.91 ₸2,306
$5.77 KGS 506
-14.90%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₸870
$2.02 KGS 177
-8.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸323
$0.64 KGS 56.4
7.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₸235
$0.36 KGS 31.15
38.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ₸466
$1.21 KGS 106
-18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₸1,344
$1.71 KGS 150
67.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 ₸454
$0.90 KGS 79.2
7.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸206
$0.50 KGS 43.70
-12.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ₸615
$1.61 KGS 141
-18.63%
Eggs
$1.75 ₸823
$1.75 KGS 153
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 ₸4,296
$7.91 KGS 693
15.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.09 ₸1,920
$4.95 KGS 434
-17.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.23 ₸3,398
$8.12 KGS 711
-10.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ₸641
$1.11 KGS 97.5
22.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 ₸696
$1.85 KGS 162
-20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₸922
$2.04 KGS 178
-3.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₸932
$1.71 KGS 150
15.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 ₸262
$0.55 KGS 48.37
1.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₸191
$0.53 KGS 46.77
-22.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₸468
$0.59 KGS 51.7
69.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₸336
$0.48 KGS 41.73
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72 ₸807
$1.72 KGS 151
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 ₸3,701
$7.77 KGS 681
1.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₸440
$1.21 KGS 106
-22.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₸785
$1.96 KGS 172
-14.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 ₸88.6
$0.22 KGS 19.23
-13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.78 ₸5,535
$11.68 KGS 1,023
0.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 ₸817
$1.41 KGS 123
23.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ₸198
$0.24 KGS 21.05
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 ₸2,118
$3.35 KGS 293
34.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.44 ₸208
$0.80 KGS 70.1
-45.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ₸9.0M
$37.6K KGS 3.3M
-49.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₸11.6M
$34.5K KGS 3.0M
-28.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.6 ₸25.7K
$34.71 KGS 3,041
57.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32 ₸3,912
$6.75 KGS 591
23.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11 ₸6,163
$11.87 KGS 1,040
10.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.78 ₸15.4K
$41.71 KGS 3,654
-21.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.64 ₸5,472
$16.06 KGS 1,407
-27.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 ₸2,176
$4.49 KGS 394
3.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 ₸111.0K
$200 KGS 17.5K
18.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,834 ₸2.3M
$4,487 KGS 393.0K
7.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 ₸26.1K
$36.87 KGS 3,229
50.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.84 ₸16.8K
$40.41 KGS 3,539
-11.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 ₸41.6K
$95.2 KGS 8,340
-6.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 ₸40.5K
$101 KGS 8,862
-14.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 ₸156.8K
$495 KGS 43.4K
-32.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 ₸100.1K
$360 KGS 31.5K
-40.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 ₸269.9K
$906 KGS 79.3K
-36.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₸189.0K
$632 KGS 55.3K
-36.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$975 ₸458.4K
$1,674 KGS 146.6K
-41.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$673 ₸316.5K
$1,136 KGS 99.5K
-40.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$533 ₸250.3K
$453 KGS 39.7K
17.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.12
20.2
-20.20%

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

Last update for Karaganda: April 11, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: April 13, 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

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