In this ranking, the republic is positioned at 140th among 155 countries with a cost of living index of 27.3 points, indicating an extremely low level of prices.
For the ranking, New York was used as a benchmark, assigned a conditional index of 100. The lower the index, the lower the cost of living in a specific country. The calculations included expenses for housing rent, utilities, food, restaurants, and the purchasing power of the local population.
Analysis of the Cost of Living Index in Kyrgyzstan
According to Numbeo data, the republic demonstrates low prices across almost all categories of expenses.
- The overall cost of living index is 27.3 points.
- The housing rent index is approximately 12 points, indicating the affordability of rent.
- The index considering housing rent is 20.4 points.
- The food price index is about 27.6 points.
- The restaurant price index is around 23.6 points.
- The purchasing power index is 40.6 points.
Thus, Kyrgyzstan continues to be a country with low prices for essential goods and services. However, the level of purchasing power indicates that the incomes of the population remain limited.
Situation in Central Asia
All countries in the region also occupy lower positions in the global ranking for livability:
- Kazakhstan — 128th place (cost of living index — 29.8);
- Tajikistan — 136th place (27.9);
- Uzbekistan — 138th place (27.3);
- Kyrgyzstan — 140th place (27.3).
Thus, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have a similar price level; however, the republic lags behind Kazakhstan in several other indicators.
Despite the low prices, purchasing power in Kyrgyzstan remains quite low. Kazakhstan shows the highest indicator in the region, while Tajikistan has the lowest. This indicates a gap between prices and the actual incomes of the population.
The most expensive countries to live in the ranking are the Bermuda, Cayman, and Virgin Islands, while among the countries with the lowest costs are Pakistan, India, and Libya.
Low prices do not always indicate a high level of prosperity. For a real assessment of the quality of life, it is important to consider purchasing power, which shows how much citizens' incomes allow them to cover everyday expenses.
