Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Kyrgyzstan: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best option in Kyrgyzstan is to use ATMs in Bishkek and Osh for the bulk of your money. Budget KGS 2,000-3,000 daily depending on tours and meals. Use DemirBank or Optima Bank ATMs, as they are reliable. Exchange just $10-20 at the airport for your taxi. Always carry some backup cash, as smaller towns may not have working ATMs. For fairer conversion rates, avoid dynamic currency conversion and take out cash in som.
The exchange counter at Manas Airport was overpriced. I changed $100 and later realized I’d lost nearly KGS 600 compared to what the ATM would have given me. That’s basically a full day’s meals. Kyrgyzstan is affordable, but wasting money on arrival was frustrating since I was traveling on KGS 2,000 per day. ATMs in Bishkek gave much stronger value. Airport counters felt like a bad start to the trip.
I landed in Bishkek and swapped $20 at the airport to pay for my taxi. The rate was poor. Later, I withdrew from an Optima Bank ATM downtown, and the difference was obvious. Meals cost me about KGS 400-500 daily, with taxis another 200-300. I budgeted KGS 2,500 per day, and the ATM rate kept me on track. Airport counters are useful only for a little start-up cash.
In Kyrgyzstan, ATMs in Bishkek generally provide better rates than airport counters. Manas Airport exchange desks tend to charge higher margins, while ATMs from DemirBank, Optima Bank, or Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank offer fair som withdrawals. If you’re budgeting KGS 2,000-3,000 daily for meals, taxis, and excursions to Ala Archa or Issyk-Kul, ATMs are the better option. Use the airport counter only for a small emergency amount.