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Bishkek vs Milan

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Bishkek, KG vs Milan, IT at a glance — Milan, IT is 328% more expensive than Bishkek, KG overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $1,500/mo versus $350/mo. Top income tax: 43% vs 10%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Milan, IT, you'd need

$321,234 / year

Milan, IT is 328% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Milan, IT vs Bishkek, KG)

  • Housing+650%
  • Food & groceries+250%
  • Transport+264%
  • Utilities+200%
  • Healthcare+228%
  • Goods & services+253%

◎ How Bishkek, KG and Milan, IT compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Bishkek, KGMilan, IT

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Bishkek, KGMilan, IT
Cost of living
Overall cost index26111
Housing18135
Food30105
Transport2280
Utilities40120
Healthcare2582
Goods & services30106
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$350/mo$1,500/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$220/mo$1,150/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$700/mo$3,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre$900$8,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$3,862$902
Inexpensive meal$4$16
Monthly transit pass$12$42
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)10%43%
VAT / sales tax12%22%
Social security (employee)10%—
Corporate tax10%24%
Capital gains10%26%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$430/mo$1,900/mo
Minimum wage$40/mo—
GDP per capita$3,081✓$43,309✓
Inflation (annual)8.2%✓1.5%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyLowModerate
Coworking spaces860
Time zoneUTC+6UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)5166
Safety index6255
Healthcare index4580
Pollution index7070
Internet speed45 Mbps120 Mbps
Walkability6085
Public transport4582
Family-friendly6064
Tap waterUse cautionSafe to drink
Health insurance$40/mo—
Life expectancy72 yr✓84 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceLowModerate
Climate
January avg-2 °C+3 °C
July avg+25 °C+24 °C
Sunny days / year322130
Rainfall / year450 mm1,000 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub4 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Kyrgyzstan vs Italy. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Bishkek vs Milan — in your currency

BishkekMilan
1-bed rent, city centre$350$1,500
1-bed rent, outside centre$220$1,150
Inexpensive meal$4$16
Monthly transit pass$12$42
Utilities (monthly)$60$190

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan's leafy capital sits at the foot of the Tien Shan. A flat 10% tax, very low rents and big mountains on the doorstep are pulling in a small but growing remote-work crowd.

Currency
Kyrgyzstani som (с KGS)
Languages
Kyrgyz, Russian
Time zone
UTC+6
Internet
45 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
62/100
Climate
❄ -2°C · ☀ 25°C · 322 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Bottled recommended
Power
C/F · 220V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Centre · Djal · Vostok-5

Good to know before you move to Milan

Italy's business, finance and fashion capital — the country's best job market, at its highest prices.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
Italian
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
120 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
55/100
Climate
❄ 3°C · ☀ 24°C · 130 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F/L · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Navigli · Brera · Isola

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Bishkek to Milan: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Bishkek to Milan, your cost of living will be roughly 328% more expensive. Milan’s cost-of-living index is 111 versus 26 for Bishkek (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Bishkek cheaper than Milan?

Milan is about 328% more expensive than Bishkek overall — its cost-of-living index is 111 versus 26 for Bishkek.

Which is more expensive, Bishkek or Milan?

Milan is more expensive than Bishkek. Its cost-of-living index is 111 vs 26 (US = 100) — about 327% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Bishkek or Milan?

Rent is cheaper in Bishkek — about $350/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,500 in Milan.

How much do you need to earn in Milan to live like in Bishkek?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Bishkek is worth about $321,234 in Milan. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Bishkek or Milan?

Kyrgyzstan has the lower top income-tax rate — 10% versus 43% in Italy.

◷ More comparisons from Bishkek

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.