Bishkek vs Khartoum Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Bishkek vs Khartoum: everyday costs favor Khartoum (~11% CPI gap), housing index favors Khartoum, wage stretch favors Bishkek. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Khartoum
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (590% gap, Bishkek ahead); Utilities (520% gap, Bishkek ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $47 lower in Khartoum than in Bishkek (~10% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $47 (favoring Khartoum).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Khartoum | CPI 18.1 vs 20.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Khartoum | Rent index 10.6 vs 11.8 (lower is better) |
| Food | Bishkek | Groceries index 27 vs 28.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Bishkek | One-way ticket 27.25 vs 187.92 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Bishkek | Utilities (85m²) 2053.2 vs 12720 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Bishkek | Internet 1449.42 vs 8148 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Khartoum | Restaurant index 18 vs 20 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Khartoum | Avg net salary 498480 vs 132692.4 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Bishkek | PP index 24.6 vs 13.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Bishkek leads with a 590% gap.
One-way ticket 27.25 vs 187.92 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Khartoum — Lower housing / rent index (10% gap).
- Families: Khartoum — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Khartoum; purchasing power favors Bishkek.
- Remote Workers: Khartoum — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Khartoum (~11% gap).
- Budget Living: Khartoum — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Khartoum is the overall cost winner on CPI (~11% lower everyday-cost index than Bishkek).
- Housing: Khartoum leads on rent index (10% gap).
- Food / groceries: Bishkek is lower (4% gap).
- Purchasing power: Bishkek scores higher (46% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (590%), favoring Bishkek.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$47 cheaper in Khartoum.
Analysis
Bishkek versus Khartoum is not a single number. With a 11% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Khartoum, while housing follows Khartoum's rent index. Purchasing power (24.6 vs 13.4) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.