Moving to Turkey from Kyrgyzstan

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 69.3% more expensive than Kyrgyzstan overall. A KGS6,558,660 salary in Kyrgyzstan would need to be roughly TRY5,070,661 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ankara averages 64°F vs 90°F in Bishkek, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

What does your salary buy?

KGS6,558,660 TRY5,070,661

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 33.9% more

Groceries

pay 25.8% more

Transportation

pay 97.4% more

Housing

pay 41.3% more

Childcare

pay 3.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 54.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KGS = 0.5373 TRY (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey.

Moved in 2023
5,494 ↓ 17% vs 2022

people moved from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Turkey?

Top countries of origin for Turkey's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Turkey compared to Kyrgyzstan.

Is it safe?

Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

KG
68%
TR
61%
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KG
13.3
TR
6.5

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on safety, though Turkey leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KG
$349
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KG
21.5
TR
21.7

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KG
88.0
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KG
1.5t
TR
5.4t

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on environment, though Turkey leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KG
5.9
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KG
50.0%
TR
43.4%

Turkey performs significantly better than Kyrgyzstan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KG
4.0%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KG
$6,400
TR
$34,400

Turkey generally does better on employment & economy, though Kyrgyzstan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KG
72.3 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KG
25.7
TR
19.4

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on family life, though Turkey leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bishkek Rain: 17.8 in/yr (451 mm)
90° / 14°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ankara Rain: 15.0 in/yr (382 mm)
64° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bishkek Ankara
Jan–Mar 73°/-9°F (23°/-22°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 98°/28°F (36°/-2°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 105°/40°F (40°/5°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 83°/-5°F (28°/-21°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Bishkek Ankara
Jan 67°/-13°F (19.2°/-25.0°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 68°/-10°F (20.2°/-23.2°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 85°/-3°F (29.4°/-19.2°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 91°/18°F (33.0°/-7.5°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 96°/25°F (35.6°/-4.0°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 106°/40°F (40.9°/4.2°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 109°/50°F (42.8°/9.9°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 105°/39°F (40.5°/3.8°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 100°/32°F (37.9°/0.1°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 94°/12°F (34.2°/-11.2°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 82°/-10°F (27.9°/-23.3°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 72°/-17°F (22.1°/-27.1°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: Kyrgyzhydromet Kyrgyzhydromet, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkey, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkey's immigration authority.

Kyrgyzstan passport

Kyrgyzstan passport holder visiting Turkey

Visa Free
Kyrgyzstan passport holders can enter Turkey without a visa.
Turkey passport

Turkey passport holder visiting Kyrgyzstan

Visa Free
Turkey passport holders can enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Turkey than Kyrgyzstan?

On average Turkey is around 44% pricier than Kyrgyzstan, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Budget about TRY1,267,665 for 3 months in Turkey (based on a KGS6,558,660 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Turkey?

Connectivity is usually fine (Turkey: 22.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Turkey offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Turkey safe for expats?

Kyrgyzstan generally does better on safety, though Turkey leads in road traffic deaths. About 61% of people in Turkey feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Kyrgyzstan?

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkey, compared to 21.5 in Kyrgyzstan. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kyrgyzstan: 69).

What's the weather like in Turkey compared to Kyrgyzstan?

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 90°F in Bishkek. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Bishkek gets 17.8 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Kyrgyzstan, the official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian.

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At a Glance

KG TR
Population 6,071,750 83,047,706
Currency Kyrgystani Som (KGS) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages Kyrgyz, Russian Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +996 +90
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112