Moving to Kyrgyzstan from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Kyrgyzstan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Kyrgyzstan, you would find that Kyrgyzstan is 55.8% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly KGS3,741,672 in Kyrgyzstan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Kyrgyz and Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bishkek averages 90°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Kyrgyzstan.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → KGS3,741,672
To maintain the same standard of living in Kyrgyzstan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 58.7% less
Groceries
pay 54.7% less
Transportation
pay 48.3% less
Housing
pay 69.5% less
Childcare
pay 73.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Kyrgyzstan
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kyrgyzstan compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Kyrgyzstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Kyrgyzstan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New Zealand performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Kyrgyzstan leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Bishkek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 73°/-9°F (23°/-22°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 98°/28°F (36°/-2°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 105°/40°F (40°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 83°/-5°F (28°/-21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Bishkek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 67°/-13°F (19.2°/-25.0°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 68°/-10°F (20.2°/-23.2°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 85°/-3°F (29.4°/-19.2°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 91°/18°F (33.0°/-7.5°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 96°/25°F (35.6°/-4.0°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 106°/40°F (40.9°/4.2°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 109°/50°F (42.8°/9.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 105°/39°F (40.5°/3.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 100°/32°F (37.9°/0.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 94°/12°F (34.2°/-11.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 82°/-10°F (27.9°/-23.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 72°/-17°F (22.1°/-27.1°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Kyrgyzhydromet
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Kyrgyzstan. To live, work, or study long-term in Kyrgyzstan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kyrgyzstan's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Kyrgyzstan
Visa Free
Kyrgyzstan passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Kyrgyzstan than New Zealand?
On average Kyrgyzstan is about 43% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kyrgyzstan?
Budget about KGS935,418 for 3 months in Kyrgyzstan (based on a NZ$130,152 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kyrgyzstan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Kyrgyzstan: 5.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kyrgyzstan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Kyrgyzstan safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Kyrgyzstan compared to New Zealand?
Kyrgyzstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Kyrgyzstan, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Kyrgyzstan scores 69 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Kyrgyzstan compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Bishkek is 90°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Bishkek receives around 17.8 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Kyrgyzstan?
The official languages in Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
