Moving to Kyrgyzstan from Turkey
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan, you would find that Kyrgyzstan is 29.2% cheaper than Turkey overall. A TRY3,700,000 salary in Turkey would need to be roughly KGS4,630,000 in Kyrgyzstan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Kyrgyz and Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bishkek averages 90°F vs 65°F in Istanbul, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Kyrgyzstan cheaper than Turkey?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 30.8% less
Groceries
pay 14.1% less
Transportation
pay 45.2% less
Housing
pay 20.4% less
Childcare
pay 69.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.7% 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.
What salary do you need in Kyrgyzstan?
What does your salary buy?
TRY3,700,000 → KGS4,630,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Kyrgyzstan
Calculate with your salary →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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Kyrgyzstan?
Top countries of origin for Kyrgyzstan's foreign-born residents.
- 108,854
- 26,066
- 12,599
- 9,684
- 8,940
- 4,554
- · · ·
-
15.1,021
Turkey
Key Indicator Comparison
How Turkey and Kyrgyzstan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Kyrgyzstan generally does better on safety, though Turkey leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Turkey 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
Turkey generally does better on infrastructure, though Kyrgyzstan leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Turkey generally does better on employment & economy, though Kyrgyzstan leads in unemployment rate.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Turkey generally does better on family life, though Kyrgyzstan leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2018). How we calculate this
Weather in Kyrgyzstan vs Turkey
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Istanbul | Bishkek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (10°/3°C) | 73°/-9°F (23°/-22°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 98°/28°F (36°/-2°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) | 105°/40°F (40°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 60°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 83°/-5°F (28°/-21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Istanbul | Bishkek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°/37°F (8.7°/2.9°C) | 67°/-13°F (19.2°/-25.0°C) |
| Feb | 48°/37°F (9.1°/2.8°C) | 68°/-10°F (20.2°/-23.2°C) |
| Mar | 52°/39°F (11.2°/3.9°C) | 85°/-3°F (29.4°/-19.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.7°C) | 91°/18°F (33.0°/-7.5°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.0°C) | 96°/25°F (35.6°/-4.0°C) |
| Jun | 79°/61°F (26.0°/16.0°C) | 106°/40°F (40.9°/4.2°C) |
| Jul | 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.5°C) | 109°/50°F (42.8°/9.9°C) |
| Aug | 83°/66°F (28.5°/18.7°C) | 105°/39°F (40.5°/3.8°C) |
| Sep | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.5°C) | 100°/32°F (37.9°/0.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/54°F (20.1°/12.0°C) | 94°/12°F (34.2°/-11.2°C) |
| Nov | 60°/47°F (15.3°/8.5°C) | 82°/-10°F (27.9°/-23.3°C) |
| Dec | 52°/42°F (11.1°/5.3°C) | 72°/-17°F (22.1°/-27.1°C) |
Turkish State Meteorological Service
KyrgyzhydrometCan you move from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Turkey 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.
Turkey passport holder visiting Kyrgyzstan
Visa Free
Kyrgyzstan passport holder visiting Turkey
Visa FreeData: 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 Turkey?
Generally yes: Kyrgyzstan runs about 29% cheaper than Turkey on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Kyrgyzstan?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a TRY3,700,000 comparable salary, that's around KGS1,157,500 in Kyrgyzstan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kyrgyzstan?
With 7.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Kyrgyzstan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Turkey and Kyrgyzstan.
Is Kyrgyzstan safe for expats?
Kyrgyzstan generally does better on safety, though Turkey leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Kyrgyzstan is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Turkey. About 68% of people in Kyrgyzstan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Kyrgyzstan compared to Turkey?
Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Kyrgyzstan, compared to 22.4 in Turkey. Kyrgyzstan scores 69 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Turkey: 76).
What's the weather like in Kyrgyzstan compared to Turkey?
The average high temperature in Bishkek is 90°F, compared to 65°F in Istanbul. Bishkek receives around 17.8 in of rainfall per year, while Istanbul gets 26.7 in.
What language do they speak in Kyrgyzstan?
The official languages in Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. In Turkey, the official language is Turkish.
