Bishkek Grocery Basket on September 5: Apples and Tomatoes Become More Expensive

The minimum grocery basket tracked in Bishkek fell by 67 soms over the past week, reaching 6,806 soms on September 5. Apples, tomatoes and carrots became more expensive, while cucumbers and milk grew cheaper.

The monitoring project visits the same supermarket each week and checks the prices of the same products. Prices at supermarkets and markets can differ, and promotional goods may cost less. Fresh fruit and vegetables have the strongest effect on the basket’s total, while bread remains its cheapest item.

Since the project began in late October 2018, the basket has increased by 3,536 soms. It has risen by 83 soms since the start of the year and by 683 soms compared with the same period last year. During 2025, the basket increased by 686 soms. Its lowest recorded price was 5,791 soms on October 18, while its highest was 6,927 soms on December 6.

The calculation uses Kyrgyzstan’s government food-consumption standards, approved in 2009, and estimates the cost for a family of four. The standards cover bread products, meat, potatoes, vegetables, fruit and berries, sugar, milk, vegetable oil, eggs, fish and tea. The project uses a typical family’s assumed choices, including apples and bananas, and vegetables such as onions, carrots, peppers, cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes.

The publication stresses that the calculation is approximate. People do not all eat the same foods or quantities, and some do not eat meat or sugar. The basket is therefore presented as a social experiment by 24.kg rather than an absolute measure of household needs.