Kaktus.media conducted an analysis to find out how salaries, pensions, and prices for goods have changed since then. And although official figures show an increase in income, the reality is that high prices continue to "eat away" these changes. Let's take a closer look at the situation.
Changes in Pensions and the Minimum Subsistence Level
Let's start with pensions. In 2021, with amendments to the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, a provision was introduced requiring that pensions and benefits not be lower than the minimum subsistence level. This provision became a subject of disputes between deputies and the government, as its implementation depended on the state of the economy and the budget.In May 2024, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, stated at a nationwide meeting on social mobilization that the minimum pension would be brought up to the minimum subsistence level. Pension increases occurred in two stages: in July to 3,500 soms and in October to 6,900 soms. Compared to 2020, the average pension nearly doubled.
Additionally, payments for people affected during conflicts in the country, including the events of 2010 and border incidents in the Batken region in 2021, were increased. Starting from August 1, 2022, salaries for civil servants were also raised, affecting about 28,000 employees. As a result, the average salary in the country increased by 37.3% over the year. However, in subsequent years, the growth became less noticeable.
Although the authorities of Kyrgyzstan speak of a significant increase in salaries and pensions, this is only true for the national currency. When converted to US dollars, the growth turns out to be less significant.
The highest inflation rate was recorded in 2022 at 14.7%. By the end of 2025, inflation stood at 9.4%, and forecasts for the current year are contentious, with experts not ruling out that price growth may exceed 10% again.
Comparison of Food Prices: 2020 and 2025
To assess how food prices have changed over the past six years, we decided to compare the cost of ten of the most popular products in December 2020 with December 2025. Frankly, the results are disappointing. At a time when we thought the pandemic and lockdown were the worst things that could happen, the reality turned out to be harsher.Remember how in December 2020, beef cost 370 soms per kilogram? That now seems like a fairy tale. Back then, you could buy almost 3 kg of meat for 1,000 soms, while today you can only purchase 1-1.5 kg for the same amount. This is real inflation.
In 2022, when the highest price growth was recorded, there was also a significant increase in pensions and salaries—by 26.5% and 37.3%, respectively. However, in practice, Kyrgyz citizens felt quite differently. The increase in income turned out to be modest, as prices for alcohol and tobacco rose by 24.4%, while prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 15.8%.
