😐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: Tashkent31% lower, Bishkek33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76UZS 57.3K
$6.44KGS 563
-26.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.02UZS 373.0K
$21.10KGS 1,844
47.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62UZS 55.6K
$5.69KGS 498
-18.80%
Cappuccino
$1.88UZS 22.6K
$2.07KGS 181
-9.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63UZS 7,555
$0.63KGS 55.4
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27UZS 3,274
$0.36KGS 31.14
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42UZS 17.0K
$1.22KGS 106
16.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88UZS 46.6K
$1.71KGS 149
126.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12UZS 13.5K
$0.96KGS 84.3
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42UZS 5,039
$0.50KGS 43.37
-16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69UZS 20.3K
$1.57KGS 137
7.64%
Eggs
$1.45UZS 17.4K
$1.73KGS 152
-16.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.59UZS 91.3K
$8.20KGS 717
-7.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85UZS 46.3K
$4.84KGS 423
-20.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.66UZS 104.2K
$7.93KGS 693
9.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35UZS 16.3K
$1.12KGS 98.1
20.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67UZS 20.1K
$1.94KGS 170
-13.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12UZS 25.5K
$2.11KGS 185
0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47UZS 17.7K
$1.72KGS 150
-14.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47UZS 5,663
$0.55KGS 48.44
-14.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34UZS 4,143
$0.50KGS 43.48
-32.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56UZS 6,762
$0.55KGS 48.27
1.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,812
$0.47KGS 41.53
-14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98UZS 23.8K
$1.76KGS 154
12.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.54UZS 78.7K
$8.18KGS 715
-20.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12UZS 13.4K
$1.15KGS 100
-2.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10UZS 37.3K
$1.89KGS 166
64.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17UZS 2,095
$0.22KGS 19.21
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.18UZS 134.4K
$11.45KGS 1,001
-2.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81UZS 9,784
$1.41KGS 123
-42.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29UZS 3,448
$0.24KGS 21.00
20.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.46UZS 41.6K
$3.34KGS 292
3.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00UZS 12.0K
$0.85KGS 74.5
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KUZS 243.2M
$37.2KKGS 3.3M
-45.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KUZS 300.2M
$33.5KKGS 2.9M
-25.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.62UZS 536.6K
$34.63KGS 3,027
28.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.64UZS 43.8K
$6.76KGS 591
-46.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.78UZS 141.7K
$11.94KGS 1,044
-1.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.90UZS 564.0K
$42.67KGS 3,730
9.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.37UZS 160.8K
$15.96KGS 1,395
-16.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31UZS 63.8K
$4.49KGS 393
18.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$292UZS 3.5M
$200KGS 17.5K
45.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887UZS 106.9M
$4,546KGS 397.4K
95.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.29UZS 532.7K
$37.74KGS 3,300
17.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.84UZS 587.4K
$40.29KGS 3,522
21.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7UZS 1.2M
$96.0KGS 8,395
3.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127UZS 1.5M
$104KGS 9,128
21.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626UZS 7.5M
$498KGS 43.5K
25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$418UZS 5.0M
$370KGS 32.4K
12.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,152UZS 13.9M
$922KGS 80.6K
24.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737UZS 8.9M
$633KGS 55.3K
16.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,607UZS 19.3M
$1,783KGS 155.8K
-9.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$901UZS 10.8M
$1,176KGS 102.8K
-23.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Bishkek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678UZS 8.1M
$490KGS 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.