Asia · Bishkek
Cost of living in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is 69% cheaper than the US, ranking #166 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Kyrgyzstan, food & groceries is the priciest category relative to the world (67), while health is the most affordable (18).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $30,500 in Kyrgyzstan.
Quality of life
81/100 · #83 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV.
Read the full background
Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country’s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Kyrgyzstan expensive to live in?
Kyrgyzstan is 69% cheaper than the US, ranking #166 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is food & groceries; health costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Kyrgyzstan?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $30,500 in Kyrgyzstan, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Kyrgyzstan cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 30.7, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan scores 81 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#83 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 72 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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