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

🙂 Solo nomad: Karakol is 53.3% cheaper than Bishkek without rent, and 50.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karakol is 53.3% cheaper than Bishkek without rent, and 54.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.32 KGS 203
$6.31 KGS 552
-63.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.92 KGS 780
$20.91 KGS 1,828
-57.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.86 KGS 512
-
Cappuccino
$1.77 KGS 155
$2.03 KGS 177
-12.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 KGS 51.8
$0.64 KGS 56
-7.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 KGS 24.47
$0.33 KGS 28.73
-15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 KGS 97.6
$1.21 KGS 106
-7.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 KGS 146
$1.71 KGS 149
-2.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 KGS 66.4
$0.88 KGS 76.7
-13.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.24 KGS 21.06
$0.5 KGS 43.66
-52.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 KGS 122
$1.62 KGS 142
-14.20%
Eggs
$1.63 KGS 142
$1.73 KGS 151
-5.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.9 KGS 603
$8.05 KGS 703
-14.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 KGS 346
$4.77 KGS 417
-16.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.69 KGS 497
$7.9 KGS 691
-27.97%
Apples (1kg)
$0.82 KGS 72
$1.11 KGS 97.2
-26.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 KGS 118
$1.86 KGS 163
-27.42%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.05 KGS 179
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 KGS 101
$1.72 KGS 150
-33.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 KGS 51.5
$0.55 KGS 48.36
7.27%
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.53 KGS 46.27
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 KGS 28.82
$0.54 KGS 47.46
-38.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 KGS 48.92
$0.51 KGS 44.35
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81 KGS 158
$1.74 KGS 152
4.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.23 KGS 457
$7.94 KGS 694
-34.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 KGS 102
$1.17 KGS 102
-0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 KGS 204
$1.98 KGS 173
17.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 KGS 16.25
$0.24 KGS 21.07
-20.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.83 KGS 1,035
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 KGS 115
$1.35 KGS 118
-2.22%
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
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.96 KGS 3,406
$33.88 KGS 2,962
14.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42 KGS 386
$6.91 KGS 604
-36.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.53 KGS 833
$11.86 KGS 1,037
-19.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.33 KGS 1,341
$41.3 KGS 3,611
-62.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.94 KGS 1,394
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.51 KGS 394
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.8 KGS 8,108
$194 KGS 17K
-52.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,459 KGS 389.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karakol
Bishkek
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
$34.52 KGS 3,018
$104 KGS 9,077
-66.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$224 KGS 19.6K
$491 KGS 42.9K
-54.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 KGS 14.9K
$361 KGS 31.6K
-52.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 KGS 25K
$912 KGS 79.7K
-68.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 KGS 24.5K
$623 KGS 54.5K
-54.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,549 KGS 135.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,079 KGS 94.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karakol
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$441 KGS 38.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
20.2
-

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

Last update for Karakol: October 28, 2025

Last update for Bishkek: October 27, 2025

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