Living in Kyrgyzstan

With its breathtaking natural landscapes, welcoming culture and affordability, Kyrgyzstan offers expats a chance to experience the nomadic heart of Central Asia. From the peaks of the Tian Shan mountains to the bustle of Bishkek, this guide covers everything you need to know about living in Kyrgyzstan.

Why Move to Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan appeals to expats who:

• Love outdoor adventures from hiking, horseback riding, camping, mountain climbing and more with stunning alpine scenery.
• Want to immerse themselves in nomadic cultures and traditions still thriving across the rural countryside.
• Seek affordability especially in housing, dining and domestic help compared to the West.
• Want a Central Asian experience but with more accessibility as a fledgling democracy and English speaking population.
• Hope to make a difference through volunteer opportunities in education, healthcare and community development.
• Aspire to launch a business or entrepreneurial ventures in an economy with less barriers.
• Want to easily access the Silk Road routes and sites across Central Asia.
• Desire a slower paced, balanced lifestyle with less emphasis on materialism.

Living in Kyrgyzstan: Pros and Cons

While compelling, there are also difficulties to weigh:

Pros :

1. Breathtaking natural landscapes
2. Nomadic cultural immersion
3. Affordability
4. More accessible than neighbors
5. Volunteer opportunities
6. Entrepreneurial prospects
7. Gateway to the Silk Road
8. Slower paced lifestyle

Cons :

1. Underdeveloped infrastructure and amenities
2. Challenging climate with cold winters
3. Limited healthcare requiring private care
4. High poverty and unemployment
5. Corruption and bureaucratic hurdles
6. Ethnic tensions persist post-conflict
7. Struggles for political stability
8. Lack of public transit
9. Language barrier outside cities

Kyrgyzstan suits adventurous expats drawn to its natural beauty and cultural riches, but offers challenges in development, climate and language.

The Cost of Living in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan remains highly affordable especially outside Bishkek:

Housing

• Apartments can be rented from $200-$500 monthly in Bishkek based on location and quality.
• Far cheaper in rural areas.

Food

• Dining out costs just a couple dollars at local cafes.
• Groceries about $150 monthly for two at markets and small shops.

Transportation

• Shared taxis called marshrutkas connect cities for $5-$10.
• Fuel is around $1 per liter.
• Used cars start under $5,000.

Utilities

• Expect to pay $50-$100 monthly total for electricity, heating, water, cell phone service and internet.

Healthcare

• Public care is lacking but private clinics cost only $30-$60 per visit without insurance.

Education

• Public schools need improvement but are free.
• Private schools average $2,000-$3,000 annually.

Taxes

• Corporate tax is 10%.
• Income tax is 10%. VAT is 12%.
• Reduced taxes for foreign companies and expats.

Quality of Life in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan offers basic but functional quality of life:

1. Affordability – Ultra-low costs, especially housing and food, allow disposable income to stretch very far. But amenities are still developing.
2. Healthcare – Public infrastructure is underinvested but private clinics offer decent care, especially in Bishkek where overseas options accessible.
3. Infrastructure – Major investments have improved roads, utilities and internet but rural areas still lack services. Supply can be inconsistent.
4. Safety & Security – Low violent crime makes safe for everyday life but petty theft exists in cities. Tensions remain post-conflict.
5. Economy – Struggles with poverty and unemployment but budding tourism, agriculture and mining offer hope. Corruption impedes business.
6. Environment – Stunning but fragile nature threatened by mining and pollution. Climate change impacting agrarian livelihoods.
7. Leisure & Culture – Strong sense of hospitality and community still thriving. Locals value family time, traditions, song, poetry and nature.

A Beginner’s Guide to Kyrgyz Culture

Key aspects of local culture:

• Influenced by nomadic roots with strong clan and family ties still shaping society.
• Conversational Kyrgyz useful in rural areas though Russian dominates cities. Greetings elaborate.
• Cuisine relies on staples like mutton, horsemeat, yogurt, breads. Social tea drinking rituals endure.
• Islam permeates but secular outlook prevails. Many traditions tied to nature and shamanism.
• Arranged marriages still occur in villages but fading. Gender roles remain traditional.
• Felt yurts and handicrafts embody nomadic aesthetic. Folk music and epic poems still thriving.
• Soviet era left imprint on monuments, arts and architecture.
• Strong oral and literary traditions shaped by mythic epics like Manas still resonant.

Best Places to Live in Kyrgyzstan

Popular expat spots:

1. Bishkek – The capital and largest city with most modern conveniences and job opportunities.
2. Osh – Ancient Silk Road city in the south surrounded by mountainscapes and minority Uzbek culture.
3. Karakol – Hub for Issyk Kul lake adventures with hiking, skiing and boating opportunities.
4. Naryn – Remote town surrounded by soaring Tian Shan mountains and alpine lakes. Outdoor enthusiast’s dream location.
5. Jalalabad – Smaller provincial capital located in the fertile Fergana Valley renowned for agriculture.

From the mountainscapes around Issyk Kul to the vibrant capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan satiates the adventurous souls of expats drawn to its breathtaking landscapes and enduring nomadic traditions.