🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Pathum Thani versus $970 in Bishkek.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Pathum Thani versus $1,500 in Bishkek.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,883 in Pathum Thani versus $2,030 in Bishkek.
🌍Living in Pathum Thani costs roughly 20% less than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pathum Thani43% lower, Bishkek29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77฿58.2
$6.79KGS 593
-73.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.78฿716
$28.78KGS 2,516
-24.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16฿203
$5.81KGS 508
6.02%
Cappuccino
$1.79฿58.8
$2.49KGS 217
-28.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.07
$0.75KGS 65.6
-38.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22฿7.21
$0.38KGS 32.86
-42.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78฿58.5
$1.40KGS 123
27.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07฿68.1
$1.90KGS 166
8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45฿47.77
$1.04KGS 90.6
39.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33฿43.77
$0.42KGS 36.62
216.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26฿41.41
$1.73KGS 151
-27.17%
Eggs
$1.83฿60.1
$1.70KGS 149
7.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35฿406
$7.45KGS 651
65.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.42฿79.6
$4.71KGS 412
-48.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.10฿398
$8.56KGS 748
41.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49฿115
$1.41KGS 123
147.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.96฿31.67
$1.79KGS 157
-46.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.51฿82.5
$2.02KGS 177
24.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿52.4
$1.55KGS 135
2.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$0.59KGS 51.2
252.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05฿34.57
$0.47KGS 41.52
123.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77฿25.16
$0.74KGS 65.1
4.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45฿14.85
$0.58KGS 50.7
-22.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿144
$2.02KGS 176
116.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.39฿473
$9.27KGS 811
55.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54฿50.5
$1.38KGS 121
11.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61฿53.1
$2.00KGS 175
-19.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57฿18.83
$0.24KGS 21.05
137.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.50KGS 1,005
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07฿35.20
$0.83KGS 72.8
28.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55฿51.0
$0.48KGS 41.87
222.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.62KGS 491
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18฿38.73
$0.96KGS 83.9
22.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K฿592.5K
$30.1KKGS 2.6M
-40.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K฿786.5K
$32.7KKGS 2.9M
-26.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8฿2,754
$50.6KGS 4,425
65.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54฿314
$5.81KGS 508
64.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.37฿341
$12.03KGS 1,052
-13.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.05฿988
$54.3KGS 4,748
-44.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.55KGS 1,272
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73฿221
$5.62KGS 492
19.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$205฿6,738
$221KGS 19.3K
-7.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K฿355.1K
$7,696KGS 672.8K
40.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.96฿196
$55.7KGS 4,871
-89.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.80KGS 3,830
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4฿2,380
$91.7KGS 8,018
-21.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8฿1,768
$91.5KGS 7,998
-41.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456฿15.0K
$580KGS 50.7K
-21.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$272฿8,933
$416KGS 36.3K
-34.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,491฿49.0K
$1,075KGS 94.0K
38.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768฿25.3K
$717KGS 62.7K
7.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,455฿146.5K
$1,773KGS 155.0K
151.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,266฿74.5K
$1,195KGS 104.4K
89.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pathum Thani
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$399฿13.1K
$502KGS 43.9K
-20.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
20.22
-80.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pathum Thani: August 31, 2026
Last update for Bishkek: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $456 in Pathum Thani and $580 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bishkek pays 26% 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: $22.00 in Pathum Thani vs $29.00 in Bishkek. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $176, 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
Pathum Thani vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bishkek cheaper than Pathum Thani?
Pathum Thani is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pathum Thani or Bishkek?
On paper, salaries run 26% 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.
What is the rent difference between Pathum Thani and Bishkek?
Rent for a central apartment: $456 in Pathum Thani versus $580 in Bishkek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $205 in Pathum Thani versus $221 in Bishkek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Pathum Thani or in Bishkek?
Dining out is cheaper in Pathum Thani – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $29.00 in Bishkek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pathum Thani or in Bishkek?
At $778 in Pathum Thani versus $970 in Bishkek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pathum Thani but tight or insufficient in Bishkek. The gap between the two cities makes Pathum Thani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pathum Thani or Bishkek more family-friendly?
For families, Pathum Thani 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, Pathum Thani or Bishkek?
Safety-wise, Pathum Thani 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 Pathum Thani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bishkek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Pathum Thani vs other spots: cost of living compared