The magazine Kaktus.media decided to investigate how realistically one can live on the stated minimum subsistence level and reviewed the stories of Bishkek residents about their actual salaries to understand the reality of life in the capital.
Choosing Between Utility Bills and Food
In 2025, the minimum subsistence level per capita in Kyrgyzstan was set at 8,697.32 soms, which is 9.2% higher than in 2024, when it was 7,963.72 soms.The minimum subsistence level is the minimum income necessary to meet basic needs such as food, housing, and medical services. In 2009, the government approved the structure of the minimum subsistence level for various socio-demographic groups. For the working-age population, this minimum is the highest: 61% of it consists of food products, 17% of non-food products, 19% of services, and 3% of taxes.
Thus, the minimum subsistence level of 9,738.29 soms is broken down into the following categories of expenses:
- 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 types of products, with consumption norms developed for each population group.
- The non-food products include clothing, footwear, essential items, and medicines.
- The services include housing and utility services, education, healthcare, and transportation.
- bread and bakery products;
- potatoes;
- vegetables and fruits;
- meat and fish;
- dairy products;
- vegetable oil;
- eggs;
- sugar;
- other products.
We decided to find out how much a working person actually spends on food per month, based on prices at the end of December 2025.
The situation with services is also complicated. According to calculations, a person needs to pay 1,850.3 soms for both utility services and entertainment. However, even for a minimal housing area, such as a one-room apartment of 35 square meters, just for heating and hot water, one would have to pay at least 1,500 soms. There are also expenses for electricity, cold water, gas, and garbage disposal, which together can exceed 1,850.3 soms.
Thus, very little is left for entertainment, if anything at all.
Average Salary and Residents' Opinions
The size of the average salary surprised many residents of the capital. According to the National Statistical Committee, it reached 54,618 soms. It is hard to believe that this is enough to meet all needs, including food, utility payments, leisure, and medical services.Nevertheless, residents of Bishkek have begun to wonder who actually earns such high salaries, as most of them can only dream of such amounts. Here are some comments from social media:
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They sum up the salaries of the deputy minister and a nurse, divide by two, and get the average salary.
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Who earns such money? This is not about me...
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We have gas heating at 5,500 for December, internet - 1,200, electricity - 500, water - 344, garbage - 126, mobile - 500, and these are just the main expenses. I don’t know how those who rent apartments with children live.
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I am also concerned about this statistic! How is this possible if teachers receive 25,000 soms net?
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My daughter, a nurse, earns 10,000 soms.
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Prices are constantly rising, a regular set of products costs 2,000-3,000, and sometimes even 3,500 soms. It is becoming increasingly difficult to live. How do those who rent housing survive? An average salary of 54,000 soms - is it reality or just statistics?
Why such a difference? Most Kyrgyzstanis work in the informal sector, and information about their incomes does not make it into official statistics. The National Statistical Committee relies only on data from registered organizations, including large companies with high salaries, which leads to an inflated average figure.
Is There Enough Money for a Comfortable Life?
Living expenses can be compared using various sources. The Numbeo service is the largest database in the world on the cost of living. It is formed based on information from users themselves, which allows for more accurate data on actual expenses.We analyzed how much it costs on average to live in Bishkek, based on data from Numbeo. Kaktus.media compiled a list of necessary products and services for a comfortable life. It includes rent for an apartment, utility payments, internet, transportation, and food. In the end, we arrived at a minimal set for living without luxuries.
| Rent for a "one-room" apartment on the outskirts of the city | 33,327 |
| Utility services | 3,558 |
| Internet | 1,033 |
| Mobile communication | 513 |
| Gym membership | 4,396 |
| Public transport (60 rides) | 1,200 |
| Lunch at a café (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 |
A comparison with calculations made in 2019 and 2025 shows a sharp deterioration in the situation. If seven years ago the same amount could sustain life for two months, now this money barely lasts for a month. Over the past four months, the cost of living has increased by 1,121 soms.
