Hi!
Finding apartment/house for rent in Bishkek is quite easy. But you have to speak decent Russian/Kyrgyz though.
You can use popular internet resources include:
, just similar to craigslist. But all info in Russian, need to go to find Rent forum in Commercials.
Mobile app "Lalafo", also website, tons of rent information, but all info in Russian.
Bubble.kg - expats in KG newsletters, where expats and locals share information regarding any issue including renting and renting out. Information is available in English. and the landlords speak English.
Local newspapers:
Vecherny Bishkek (Вечерний Бишкек), one of the most popular newspaper (Friday edition is thicker and better). all info in Russian.
International organizations work with Real Estate brokers, either invididual or companies (plenty of them). Brokers usually charge 30%-100% monthly fee as a brokerage fee for their services, that lies on the Landlords. In such case the rent price of the apartment/house may go up. But renting on your own poses some risk to you. So it is up to a person.
If you require official receipts from a landlord, that may also increase the rent price, coz most of the landlords work unofficially and do not include income tax on the rent.
Rent price for studio apartment (35 sqm) in city center is around 200USD/mon. 3 Room apartment (2 bedroom plus living room) 100SQM in a new block costs around 800-1000/mon. Landlords charge 1 months rent as a security fee. Rent contracts can be signed, though it is not popular for mosts.
Bills are not included in the rent price. But it may cost around 30-60 USD depending on the apartment size, heating (cooling) season and whether you use Internet or not.
Normally all rented accomodation comes with furnishing and appliances. Some landlords may agree to purchase some additional stuff for tenants if requested, without increase the rent.
Apartment or House?
Both types of accomodation is available in Bishkek center districts.
Apartments can be chosen from the pool of old Soviet era built blocks with outdated infrastructure, and newly built residential blocks with guarded territories. The newer the house the higher the rent, the better neighbors etc.
Single family houses usually comes with a land of 400-500 sqm with personal parking and orchard. Heated with natural gas, electricity or coal/wod.
Most of the landlords do not allow pets in apartments, so if you have one SFH can be a good choice. However the security is also an issue. Living in an apartment, especially in a new block, you can enjoy cheaper security/video costs, while living in SFH is costlier security-wise.
In terms of washing/laundry - in Bishkek it is allowed for any apartment/house to use washing machine, public laundries are not popular. Power costs are cheap - 0,035 USD/kWt.
In terms of heating - SFH of 100SQM will costs nearly 100-150USD/heating month, while 100SQM apartment would cost around 25-30USD/heating month.
