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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $572 in Osh versus $867 in Bishkek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $956 in Osh versus $1,344 in Bishkek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,340 in Osh versus $1,822 in Bishkek.

Living in Osh costs roughly 34% less than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Osh 57% lower, Bishkek 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 KGS 296

$6.14 KGS 537

-44.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.80 KGS 1,294

$21.32 KGS 1,864

-30.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.78 KGS 505

$5.71 KGS 499

1.23%

Cappuccino

$1.33 KGS 116

$2.01 KGS 175

-33.83%

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

$0.69 KGS 60.6

$0.68 KGS 59.8

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 KGS 18.35

$0.35 KGS 30.79

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 KGS 104

$1.18 KGS 103

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 KGS 104

$1.68 KGS 147

-29.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KGS 81.8

$0.95 KGS 83.1

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 KGS 36.48

$0.50 KGS 43.73

-16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 KGS 81.9

$1.55 KGS 135

-39.35%

Eggs

$1.53 KGS 134

$1.80 KGS 157

-15.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 KGS 512

$8.08 KGS 707

-27.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 KGS 393

$4.83 KGS 423

-7.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 KGS 653

$7.90 KGS 691

-5.44%

Apples (1kg)

$0.24 KGS 21.11

$1.07 KGS 93.9

-77.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 KGS 76.9

$1.85 KGS 162

-52.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 KGS 246

$2.09 KGS 183

34.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 KGS 98.0

$1.76 KGS 154

-36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 KGS 34.48

$0.58 KGS 51.0

-32.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 KGS 31.02

$0.49 KGS 42.93

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 KGS 19.15

$0.59 KGS 51.5

-62.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 KGS 51.9

$0.47 KGS 41.39

25.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.72 KGS 62.9

$1.75 KGS 153

-58.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.17 KGS 452

$8.01 KGS 700

-35.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 KGS 97.8

$1.21 KGS 105

-7.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 KGS 129

$1.97 KGS 172

-24.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 KGS 13.96

$0.22 KGS 19.14

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.42 KGS 1,960

$11.51 KGS 1,006

94.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 KGS 116

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 KGS 17.90

$0.22 KGS 19.22

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 KGS 126

$3.45 KGS 302

-58.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 KGS 73.4

$0.80 KGS 69.8

5.00%

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

$23.1K KGS 2.0M

$37.0K KGS 3.2M

-37.71%

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

$34.5K KGS 3.0M

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

$36.81 KGS 3,218

$33.77 KGS 2,952

9.00%

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

$4.18 KGS 365

$6.72 KGS 587

-37.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.52 KGS 657

$11.89 KGS 1,039

-36.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.77 KGS 2,253

$42.07 KGS 3,678

-38.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.86 KGS 3,048

$15.98 KGS 1,397

118.15%

Cinema Ticket

$2.34 KGS 205

$4.47 KGS 391

-47.65%

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

$90.4 KGS 7,906

$198 KGS 17.3K

-54.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,876 KGS 164.0K

$4,596 KGS 401.8K

-59.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 KGS 1,528

$37.96 KGS 3,319

-53.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.67 KGS 1,982

$39.57 KGS 3,460

-42.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 KGS 4,952

$92.9 KGS 8,117

-39.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.89 KGS 3,924

$102 KGS 8,941

-56.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 KGS 32.9K

$494 KGS 43.2K

-23.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 KGS 16.1K

$368 KGS 32.2K

-49.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 KGS 65.9K

$904 KGS 79.1K

-16.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 KGS 40.0K

$637 KGS 55.7K

-28.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,254 KGS 109.7K

$1,750 KGS 153.0K

-28.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,047 KGS 91.5K

$1,196 KGS 104.6K

-12.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 KGS 27.0K

$490 KGS 42.9K

-36.96%

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 Osh: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $377 in Osh and $494 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bishkek pays 59% 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: $15.00 in Osh vs $21.00 in Bishkek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $138 vs $170 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

Osh vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osh is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Bishkek. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $377 in Osh versus $494 in Bishkek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $90.4 in Osh versus $198 in Bishkek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Bishkek. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Osh and Bishkek are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Osh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.