What is the reality? Kaktus.media decided to analyze what one can spend the minimum subsistence on by studying the opinions of Bishkek residents about real incomes and determining how much is needed to live in Bishkek.
Utility Payments vs. Food
As of the end of 2025, the minimum subsistence level for the entire population of Kyrgyzstan was set at 8,697.32 soms. This is a 9.2% increase compared to 2024, when it was 7,963.72 soms.We remind you that the minimum subsistence level is the minimum income necessary to meet a person's basic needs, including food, housing, clothing, and medical services. In 2009, the government approved the structure of the minimum subsistence level for various socio-demographic groups. According to this structure, the share of food products for the working-age population is 61%, non-food products — 17%, services — 19%, and taxes — 3%.
Thus, 9,738.29 soms by expenditure categories looks like this:
- food - 5,940.3 soms;
- non-food products - 1,655.5 soms;
- services - 1,850.3 soms;
- taxes - 292.19 soms.
- The food basket includes 32 items of food, with consumption norms developed for each population group. The list and norms are specified in the relevant decree.
- Non-food products include clothing, footwear, bedding, essential items, sanitary supplies, and medicines.
- Services cover housing and communal services, transportation, education, healthcare, and cultural events.
- bread and bakery products;
- potatoes;
- vegetables and fruits;
- meat and dairy products;
- eggs;
- vegetable oil;
- other products.
We decided to calculate how much a working person actually spends on food, based on price data from the end of December 2025.
The situation with services is no better. According to government calculations, a person should pay 1,850.3 soms for utility services and entertainment. However, even for the minimum housing area (for example, a one-room apartment of 35 m²), heating and hot water alone cost at least 1,500 soms. Moreover, there are additional expenses for electricity, water supply, and other utility services. All of this can easily exceed that very amount of 1,850.3 soms.
As for entertainment, it is hardly worth mentioning: one has to save on food just to cover basic needs.
Opinions of City Residents on Salaries
The size of the average salary also surprised Bishkek residents. According to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee, it amounted to 54,618 soms. This sounds good; it seems sufficient for food, utilities, leisure, clothing, and medical expenses.However, Bishkek residents began to ask the question: who actually receives such high salaries, as they themselves only dream of them? Here are some comments from social media:
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The salary of a deputy minister and a nurse is added together and then divided by two — and that’s how the average monthly salary comes out.
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It’s interesting who earns such money? It’s definitely not me...
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We live in our own house; heating costs 5,500 soms, internet - 1,200, electricity - 500, water - 344, garbage - 126, mobile - 500. There are three of us, and we don’t go to cafes. I feel for those who live in rented accommodation with children.
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I’m also concerned about this statistic! How is this possible if teachers only earn 25,000 soms?
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My daughter is a nurse, and she earns 10,000 soms.
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Prices are constantly rising; a regular set of groceries costs 2,000 to 3,000, and sometimes even 3,500 soms. It’s hard to live, even with your own housing. How do renters with children survive? When I hear about an “average salary” of 54,000, I wonder: is this reality or just reported data?
The reason for such a discrepancy is that most Kyrgyz citizens work in the informal sector, and their incomes are not officially recorded. The National Statistical Committee relies only on data from official reports, which leads to an overestimation of the average salary.
Is the Salary Enough for a Comfortable Life?
There are different ways to compare living expenses. The Numbeo service is one of the largest databases on the cost of living, collecting data from users. These figures differ significantly from the statistics provided by the government.Based on Numbeo data, we calculated how much it costs to live for a month in Bishkek. Kaktus.media prepared a list of necessary products and services for a comfortable life for one person in the capital, including rent, utilities, internet, transportation, and food. This is a basic set necessary for living without excesses.
| Rent for a one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of the city | 33,327 |
| Utility services | 3,558 |
| Internet | 1,033 |
| Mobile communication | 513 |
| Fitness club membership | 4,396 |
| Public transport (60 trips) | 1,200 |
| Lunch in a cafe (30 times) | 18,000 |
| Cappuccino (30 cups) | 6,094 |
| Milk (10 liters) | 811 |
| Bread (15 kg) | 1,108 |
| Rice (2 kg) | 301 |
| Eggs (24 pcs) | 297 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | 695 |
| Chicken breast (4 kg) | 1,468 |
| Meat (3 kg) | 2,174 |
| Apples (3 kg) | 285 |
| Bananas (2 kg) | 335 |
| Potatoes (5 kg) | 244 |
| Onions (3 kg) | 128 |
| Tomatoes (4 kg) | 549 |
| Water (30 bottles of 1.5 liters) | 1,442 |
| Local beer (10 bottles of 0.5 liters) | 1,056 |
| Cigarettes (20 packs) | 3,200 |
| Total | 82,213 |
Comparing the data with calculations made in 2019 and 2025, one can notice a sad trend. Seven years ago, one could live for two months in Bishkek on such an amount, but now — only one. In four months, the cost of living increased by 1,121 soms.
