Budget Travel in Kyrgyzstan: How Much Things Cost

If you’re planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan, you might be curious to how much things will cost. It’s a very budget friendly country, even cheaper than some of its neighbouring countries in Central Asia.

I lived on about US$30 per day for the whole two months I was there. But you can certainly spend more than that, if you prefer more comfortable accommodation and private transport. Take a look at everything you need to know about money and budget for Kyrgyzstan.

Official currency: Kyrgyz Som (KGS)

ATMs and Money

ATMs can be found pretty frequently around the country. Although in some rural villages, there still aren’t any ATM services, particularly in mountainous areas. You should always carry cash with you, as this is still the preferred form of payment.

Card payments are accepted more commonly in the cities and major towns, especially in supermarkets. However, cash is still needed for paying at markets, local restaurants, guesthouses, yurt camps, and marshrutkas.

Tipping

Tipping is not generally expected in Kyrgyzstan. Some cafes and restaurants in major towns and cities will add a 10% service charge. However, local places tend not to do this.

If you have a guide for a trek or tour, it’s a nice gesture to give a tip. While it’s not necessarily an expectation, giving a 10% tip for their service is appreciated, especially as the low wages in the country can make it hard for those working in seasonal tourist jobs.

Budget Travel in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a very budget friendly country. You can live on as little as US$30 per day, if you stay in basic guesthouses or hostels, use public transport, and eat at local restaurants.

How Much Do Things Cost in Kyrgyzstan?

If you want to know a rough idea what to expect things to do cost in Kyrgyzstan, then here is a breakdown of costs.

Accommodation

This can range a bit depending on what kind of accommodation you’re staying in. A cheap hostel or basic guesthouse or homestay will average around US$10 per night. A guesthouse that offers breakfast and dinner included, will cost between US$15-25 per night. You can of course spend more than that, if you’re looking for more comfort.

Yurt camps vary a lot, depending on where they are. The small family run yurt camps at Kol Ukok lake or Tulpar Lake charge about US$20 per night with dinner and breakfast. However, yurt camps on popular trekking routes like on the Ala Kul trek will charge more like US$50 per night, with meals.

Wild camping is free!

Activities (Horse Treks, Trekking, Camping etc.)

If you plan on doing any trekking, then you might be spending money on renting gear or for a fully organised tour. The most popular activities are the four-day trek to Ala Kul near Karakol and a three-day horse trek to Song Kul.

Rented camping gear for four days in Karakol costs about US$115 in total for a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, trekking poles, gas cooker, pot and cutlery.

If you go with an organised four day trek to Ala Kul where everything is included for you, guide, yurt camps, food and transport, you’ll be looking at about 500 Euros per person.

A three-day horse trek to Song Kul is about US$230 per person, which includes yurt camps for two nights, a horse guide, horse for each person, helmet, and food.

Restaurants and Eating Out

If you eat at local restaurants then you’ll spend about US$3.50-7 per person per meal. This will for something like plov or laghman with a side salad and tea.

More expensive restaurants and cafes in Bishkek or Osh will cost more like US$10-15 per person per meal.

If you choose to cook your own meals, this can reduce the cost even more, especially if you purchase at local markets.

Transport

Public transport is very affordable in Kyrgyzstan. For marshrutkas, you can expect to pay anywhere from US$1-12 depending on how far you’re travelling. For places just an hour or two away, you’ll pay about US$1-3 for a set. For long trips like from Bishkek to Osh, you’ll pay about US$12 for a seat for 14 hours.

If you want to take a private taxi, I recommend using Yandex Go app, which operates like Uber. This offers a set price which you pay the driver in cash. This is much better than bargaining with taxi drivers on the street.

Hiring a car can be quite expensive in Kyrgyzstan. For a standard 2WD vehicle, you can find some for about US$60 per day. However, for a 4x4, then you’ll have to expect about US$90+ per day. This quickly adds up, but it does offer a lot more freedom and ability to reach remote places.

SIM Card and Internet

Local SIM cards are relatively cheap in Kyrgyzstan. For example, you can expect to pay around 500 KGS (US$7) for unlimited data for 28 days with O! mobile (a local operator).

If you prefer an eSIM, you can get a monthly global plan from Holafly with unlimited data for US$64.90. This will work in almost any country though, so it’s ideal for those travelling overland or for a long time.

Get 5% off any Holafly eSIM with my code: BEYONDWILD.