I live in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for less than £20 daily.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is not on many people’s travel bucket lists or considered the most desirable location. But could you be missing something? Many people have never heard of Kyrgyzstan, and those who have heard of it, believe it is too remote or underdeveloped.

Kyrgyzstan is still a developing country, but you can thrive here. You will need to adapt to a new culture, language and chilled pace of life. It’s an excellent place to relax and focus on growing your online business.

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to relocate to Kyrgyzstan. I am overjoyed to have discovered such a beautiful and untouched corner of the globe.

In this lovely country, you can live a high-quality life cheaply. Bishkek can be lived in for as little as £17 per day. For comparison, living in London will cost £104 per day, while living in New York City costs £178 per day.

Before we get into the specifics of cheap living in Bishkek, here are some ground rules.
These expenses are calculated based on the costs of one person.
This also assumes a moderate lifestyle. You may have to pay a little more if you like to live a lavish lifestyle.

Housing

Housing is typically the most expensive component of any budget. Fortunately, finding low-cost lodging in Bishkek is simple. There are various types of apartments, from Soviet-era apartment blocks to newly constructed modern apartments known as Elite apartments.
A furnished studio apartment in an old Soviet-style apartment could cost as little as GBP 150.00 or USD 190. Outside of Bishkek, the capital, there are even more affordable options.
The price of elite apartments is slightly higher. A furnished one-bedroom apartment could cost between GBP 250 and 350 (approximately USD 300 and USD 400).

Utilities

Water, gas, and electricity prices vary according to season and usage. Because we consume less during the summer, utilities are less expensive. I paid an average of 4.00 British pounds (5.00 USD) per month last summer. The most I’ve ever spent in the winter is £14 ($17.00) monthly.

Healthcare

Foreigners and ex-pats in Kyrgyzstan have access to public health care. However, the country’s healthcare system is less developed than in Europe or the United States. Purchase international health insurance before coming here to be safe. You could also register with a healthcare organisation that treats experts. It’s similar to enrolling in a local GP service. I go to Eldik Family Medicine Clinic. The staff is very professional and speaks English fluently.
A single membership costs approximately £100.00 per year, while a family membership costs around £200.00 per year.
Standard membership benefits include a year of free doctor consultations, a 50% discount on x-rays, and a free dental check-up at their dental clinic.

Neomed is another popular healthcare provider among local ex-pats. I’ve never used them, but I heard good things about them. They appear to offer something other than a registration service like Eldik. They operate on patients and charge for the procedure. You can find additional information on their website, including a price list for every service provided.

Travel Cost

Taking public transportation is the most cost-effective way to get around Bishkek. A monthly budget of £30 (or $37) will be enough. Of course, this depends on how frequently you go out. Instead of a travel pass, they use a pay-per-ride system.
Trolley buses and smaller buses are available. Trolley buses are like trams. Yandex Go app is the region’s version of Uber. An average trip costs between £2.00 and £3.00 ($2.40 to $3.70). The most I’ve ever paid for a taxi ride was £6.00 ($7.37) for an hour’s ride from the city centre to Manas International Airport.

Telecom & Internet

Telecom

Kyrgyzstan has three major mobile operators. O!, Beeline, and MegaCom I’ve used both Beeline and O!; both services are excellent. They both do exactly what they say on the tin. The prices are also roughly comparable. I’ve summed it up below.

Minimum monthly spend of £4.90; maximum monthly spend of £8.50.

I pay £4.90, which is more than enough because I mostly use WhatsApp, occasionally browse when I’m out and about, and use the home broadband at home. Wi-Fi is available for free in most coffee shops.
To work with any SIM card, your phone must be unlocked.
You can buy sim cards at Manas International Airport when you arrive. But be aware that you may be offered the most expensive deals that are unnecessary for your needs.

Internet

Is internet service available in Kyrgyzstan? This is a question I am frequently asked. So, yes, internet service is available in Kyrgyzstan.

I’m also asked which is the best internet provider in Bishkek, which is difficult to answer. I am still waiting for a service that has completely blown me away. So far, I’ve used three different service providers.

Kyrgyzstan has a variety of internet service providers. The cost varies according to the speed provided. I’ve summarised the prices of the most popular providers below. Minimum monthly spend of £8; maximum monthly spend of £21. I am currently paying £10 per month to Aknet.

I started with Megaline, but it broke down now and then, so I switched to Aknet because everyone told me they were the best. Aknet has been a far worse experience. The service is unavailable most Mondays between 9 am and 12 noon. Having reliable internet is vital to me, so, in addition to Aknet, I have a Megacom. It’s a mobile router that I can carry with me. It costs about £10.00 per month.

You may need to buy the router separately to get the TV connection. With Aknet, it costs a one-off fee of £25

Groceries

It is entirely up to each individual how much money they spend on food. When it comes to food, I am a standard shopper. I spend between £15 and £20 on groceries each week. This includes toiletries and cleaning supplies. Fresh food is cheap here, and there is a wide variety. Meat, specifically beef and chicken, is expensive. It costs about the same in UK supermarkets, but the quality is organic, fresh, and delicious.

Cafes & Coffee shops

My grocery estimate excludes eating out, so your monthly costs will be much higher if you eat out frequently.
A regular-sized latte in most coffee shops costs around £1.70. A gourmet sandwich costs between £2.50 and £3.00.
Bishkek has a lot of excellent cafes and cake shops. Kulivlovski is the most prominent brand. The cakes are delicious, and the prices are reasonable—a slice costs about £2.

Clothing

The price of clothing in Bishkek varies depending on where you shop. Bishkek has a few malls with primarily European imports and high prices, but the clothes are excellent quality. A Zara coat that cost me £90 in the UK cost £175 In Bishkek.

Thank you, but no.

If you want cheaper clothing items, your best bet is the Bazaars. The main bazaars in Bishkek are Dordoy Bazaar (or Dordoi Bazaar) and Osh bazaar. For a tenth of what you get in malls, you can get inexpensive clothes, shoes, accessories, leather products, and household goods. You can bargain with sellers for lower prices.

The majority of the items are Chinese imports.

You can get an entire outfit for less than £10 here.

Entertainment

If you like to go out and have fun, £20 per month is a good amount to spend on entertainment in Bishkek. It will let you enjoy the best things the country offers without breaking your budget.

I like hiking during summer. The average price per person is £6.00, depending on the tour. I use tour companies.

There are art classes, cooking classes, and horseback riding lessons available. Art classes are a little more costly. Attending an art lesson would cost you between £10 and £20 for a three-hour session.

Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim-majority country. The predominant religion is Islam, but the government is secular. Kyrgyzstanis can consume alcohol. I was surprised to find alcohol in supermarkets.
Locally brewed alcohol is inexpensive. There are numerous types of spirits. Vodka is the most common. I have seen a litre of Vodka cost £0.20 in supermarkets.
Imported goods are always more expensive. So, it entirely depends on what you choose to consume.

Monthly Living Expenses

This is an example of a general budget lifestyle; I know people who live on less and those who live on more.

I admit that moving is a big step. I went there twice before leaving. You can visit before making any decisions. You can do so for as little as £17 per day.

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