🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Pagadian versus $889 in Bishkek.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Pagadian versus $1,368 in Bishkek.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,396 in Pagadian versus $1,847 in Bishkek.
🙂Living in Pagadian costs roughly 14% less than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian43% lower, Bishkek34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47₱212
$6.46KGS 566
-46.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.84₱1,092
$21.00KGS 1,839
-15.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32₱203
$5.59KGS 489
-40.61%
Cappuccino
$2.91₱178
$2.01KGS 176
44.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02₱62.3
$0.68KGS 59.8
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₱28.11
$0.33KGS 28.58
39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03₱63.2
$1.16KGS 102
-11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80₱110
$1.67KGS 146
7.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79₱109
$0.96KGS 83.7
86.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08₱65.9
$0.46KGS 40.14
134.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99₱60.4
$1.57KGS 138
-36.94%
Eggs
$2.00₱123
$1.73KGS 151
15.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22₱503
$7.91KGS 693
3.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83₱295
$4.94KGS 432
-2.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.77₱353
$7.97KGS 698
-27.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47₱212
$1.10KGS 96.6
215.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12₱68.7
$1.93KGS 169
-41.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.42₱209
$2.01KGS 176
70.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34₱82.0
$1.69KGS 148
-20.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56₱156
$0.54KGS 47.44
374.07%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38₱207
$0.49KGS 42.62
589.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11₱68.1
$0.60KGS 52.1
85.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73₱44.39
$0.47KGS 41.28
55.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60₱159
$1.77KGS 155
46.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78₱415
$8.06KGS 706
-15.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05₱64.0
$1.16KGS 102
-9.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱94.0
$1.90KGS 167
-18.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.27
$0.22KGS 19.27
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.05₱431
$11.72KGS 1,027
-39.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱48.03
$1.40KGS 123
-43.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.42
$0.24KGS 21.13
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.07₱127
$3.37KGS 295
-38.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24₱75.7
$0.85KGS 74.1
45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K₱1.6M
$38.4KKGS 3.4M
-31.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₱1.2M
$34.3KKGS 3.0M
-41.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.0₱5,692
$34.11KGS 2,987
172.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.39₱2,043
$6.92KGS 606
382.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.33₱1,672
$11.63KGS 1,018
135.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.24₱2,095
$41.99KGS 3,678
-18.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.53₱277
$15.56KGS 1,363
-70.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10₱373
$4.48KGS 393
36.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150₱9,166
$197KGS 17.3K
-24.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,307₱263.5K
$4,484KGS 392.7K
-3.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65₱2,793
$37.79KGS 3,310
20.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11₱1,597
$39.30KGS 3,442
-33.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0₱4,527
$95.7KGS 8,384
-22.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.2₱3,313
$103KGS 9,057
-47.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$111₱6,792
$501KGS 43.9K
-77.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177₱10.8K
$367KGS 32.1K
-51.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244₱15.0K
$899KGS 78.7K
-72.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154₱9,397
$618KGS 54.1K
-75.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,393₱146.4K
$1,609KGS 140.9K
48.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,157KGS 101.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pagadian
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$461KGS 40.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
20.2
-66.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pagadian: April 28, 2026
Last update for Bishkek: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Pagadian and $501 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Pagadian vs $21.00 in Bishkek. Groceries flip the comparison at $201 vs $170, with Bishkek cheaper for home cooking.
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
Pagadian vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bishkek cheaper than Pagadian?
Pagadian is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,149 in Pagadian and $1,333 in Bishkek to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Pagadian and Bishkek?
Rent for a central apartment: $111 in Pagadian versus $501 in Bishkek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $150 in Pagadian versus $197 in Bishkek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Pagadian and Bishkek?
Shoppers in Bishkek pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,200 enough for either Pagadian or Bishkek?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pagadian gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Pagadian or Bishkek more family-friendly?
For families, Pagadian 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, Pagadian or Bishkek?
Safety-wise, Pagadian 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.