Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Bishkek Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Bishkek

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $928 in Tashkent versus $901 in Bishkek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,458 in Tashkent versus $1,378 in Bishkek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,988 in Tashkent versus $1,855 in Bishkek.

Living in Tashkent is roughly 3% more expensive than in Bishkek, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tashkent 31% lower, Bishkek 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76 UZS 57.3K
$6.44 KGS 563
-26.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.02 UZS 373.0K
$21.10 KGS 1,844
47.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.62 UZS 55.6K
$5.69 KGS 498
-18.80%
Cappuccino
$1.88 UZS 22.6K
$2.07 KGS 181
-9.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 UZS 7,555
$0.63 KGS 55.4
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UZS 3,274
$0.36 KGS 31.14
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 UZS 17.0K
$1.22 KGS 106
16.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 UZS 46.6K
$1.71 KGS 149
126.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 UZS 13.5K
$0.96 KGS 84.3
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 UZS 5,039
$0.50 KGS 43.37
-16.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UZS 20.3K
$1.57 KGS 137
7.64%
Eggs
$1.45 UZS 17.4K
$1.73 KGS 152
-16.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.59 UZS 91.3K
$8.20 KGS 717
-7.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 UZS 46.3K
$4.84 KGS 423
-20.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.66 UZS 104.2K
$7.93 KGS 693
9.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 UZS 16.3K
$1.12 KGS 98.1
20.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 UZS 20.1K
$1.94 KGS 170
-13.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 UZS 25.5K
$2.11 KGS 185
0.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 UZS 17.7K
$1.72 KGS 150
-14.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 UZS 5,663
$0.55 KGS 48.44
-14.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 UZS 4,143
$0.50 KGS 43.48
-32.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 UZS 6,762
$0.55 KGS 48.27
1.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 UZS 4,812
$0.47 KGS 41.53
-14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 UZS 23.8K
$1.76 KGS 154
12.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.54 UZS 78.7K
$8.18 KGS 715
-20.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 UZS 13.4K
$1.15 KGS 100
-2.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 UZS 37.3K
$1.89 KGS 166
64.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 UZS 2,095
$0.22 KGS 19.21
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.18 UZS 134.4K
$11.45 KGS 1,001
-2.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 UZS 9,784
$1.41 KGS 123
-42.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 UZS 3,448
$0.24 KGS 21.00
20.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 UZS 41.6K
$3.34 KGS 292
3.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 UZS 12.0K
$0.85 KGS 74.5
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K UZS 243.2M
$37.2K KGS 3.3M
-45.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K UZS 300.2M
$33.5K KGS 2.9M
-25.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.62 UZS 536.6K
$34.63 KGS 3,027
28.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.64 UZS 43.8K
$6.76 KGS 591
-46.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.78 UZS 141.7K
$11.94 KGS 1,044
-1.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.90 UZS 564.0K
$42.67 KGS 3,730
9.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.37 UZS 160.8K
$15.96 KGS 1,395
-16.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31 UZS 63.8K
$4.49 KGS 393
18.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$292 UZS 3.5M
$200 KGS 17.5K
45.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 UZS 106.9M
$4,546 KGS 397.4K
95.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.29 UZS 532.7K
$37.74 KGS 3,300
17.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.84 UZS 587.4K
$40.29 KGS 3,522
21.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 UZS 1.2M
$96.0 KGS 8,395
3.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 UZS 1.5M
$104 KGS 9,128
21.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 UZS 7.5M
$498 KGS 43.5K
25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 UZS 5.0M
$370 KGS 32.4K
12.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 UZS 13.9M
$922 KGS 80.6K
24.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$737 UZS 8.9M
$633 KGS 55.3K
16.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,607 UZS 19.3M
$1,783 KGS 155.8K
-9.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$901 UZS 10.8M
$1,176 KGS 102.8K
-23.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 UZS 8.1M
$490 KGS 42.9K
38.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.07
20.2
9.26%

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

Last update for Tashkent: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bishkek: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Tashkent and $498 in Bishkek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tashkent pays 38% 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: $31.00 in Tashkent vs $21.00 in Bishkek. Groceries flip the comparison at $163 vs $171, with Tashkent 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
Tashkent vs Bishkek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bishkek cheaper than Tashkent?
Bishkek is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tashkent or Bishkek?
Average pay runs 38% higher in Tashkent, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tashkent and Bishkek?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Tashkent versus $498 in Bishkek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $292 in Tashkent versus $200 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 Tashkent and in Bishkek?
Shoppers in Tashkent pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tashkent or in Bishkek?
At $901 in Bishkek versus $928 in Tashkent, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bishkek but tight or insufficient in Tashkent. The gap between the two cities makes Bishkek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tashkent or Bishkek more family-friendly?
For families, Bishkek is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tashkent, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tashkent or Bishkek?
Safety-wise, Tashkent 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 Bishkek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tashkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tashkent vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities