Salam! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, your guide to spectacular journeys in Central Asia.
It has been announced that city buses in Bishkek will stop accepting cash payments as of July 1, 2026! The announcement was made by Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev.
It is quite a firm statement: “Passengers who cannot pay cashless will not be able to ride the bus.”
This is good to know if you plan to visit Bishkek this summer or later. Tourists will need to prepare a little, too.
Bishkek Buses: No More Cash Payments from July 1
According to the Bishkek city announcement:
- From July 1, 2026, cash payments will be abolished on city buses
- Passengers who cannot use cashless payment will not be able to ride the bus
- No fare increase is planned in 2026
The mayor told reporters, “Just to be clear, there are no plans to raise fares in 2026!”
(Source: 24.kg English edition, official announcement in May 2026)
Current Fares: 17 Som Cashless, 20 Som in Cash
Bus fares in Bishkek currently differ depending on how you pay.
- Cashless: 17 som (about ¥30)
- Cash: 20 som (about ¥35)
Paying in cash is set 3 som higher, so the city has been encouraging cashless payment for some time. From July 1, the 20-som cash option will disappear altogether.
Going Cashless Has Actually Been Planned for 4 Years
According to 24.kg, Bishkek City Hall announced the same plan 4 years ago, too. It did not happen back then, so this is effectively a re-announcement.
This time, however, the mayor officially set a date in front of reporters, so it seems likely to go ahead.
There Are Currently 3 Cashless Ways to Pay on Bishkek Buses
Three cashless payment methods are currently used side by side on Bishkek buses.
◎ Bank QR code payment (MBank, etc.)
You scan the QR code posted inside the bus with a local bank’s app to pay. Buses do in fact have payment QR codes posted inside (information from our local guides).
(Source: CBK – MBank QR payments now available on public transport, ELQR official site, and our local guides’ firsthand experience)
- Based on Kyrgyzstan’s national QR payment system, “ELQR“
- Participating banks: MBank, Demir Bank, Bakai Bank and other major banks
- No fees for domestic transfers
- How to pay: scan the QR code on the bus with the “QR Scanner” in your bank app → enter the amount → done
◎ Tulpar card (Тулпар) | Physical IC card
The city’s official transit IC card. You pay by tapping it on the reader on the bus.
(Source: Bishkek City Hall – Tulpar Project Report, 24.kg)
- Launched in 2022, fully operational since August 2023
- The physical card can be bought for 50 som (about ¥90, including one free ride)
- In 2025 alone, 160 million som was paid cashless
- Integration with Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is also planned for 2026
◎ Tulpar app (virtual payment)
The app version of the Tulpar card. Even without buying a physical card, you can pay for the bus with a virtual card in the app.
- The dedicated “Tulpar” app is available on Google Play and App Store (iOS 13 or later)
- You can top up the app with cash at the many payment terminals around the city
- The terminals are mostly in Russian and Kyrgyz (occasionally in English)
How Do Locals Actually Pay?
That said, speaking honestly as local staff, many people still pay cash on the bus! I usually pay cash myself; cash payment is still deeply rooted in daily life.
So if the “end of cash” really happens on July 1, it will be quite a big change in daily life for locals, too.
Can Travelers to Kyrgyzstan Use the 3 Payment Methods on Bishkek Buses?
Let’s check whether each of the three methods works from a traveler’s point of view!
◎ Bank QR code payment | Some hurdles, but possible
To use a bank app (MBank, etc.), you need a Kyrgyz bank account. This is basically difficult for short-term travelers, but there are many payment terminals around the city, so you may be able to pay with cash (although the terminals are mostly in Russian and Kyrgyz).
◎ Tulpar card (physical card) | The practical solution for travelers
* The following is information from the official website; I have not bought a physical card myself yet. I will try it out and update this article!
The simplest option for travelers is to buy a physical Tulpar card.
Price: 50 som (about ¥90, including one free ride)
Points of sale according to official information (Sources: tulpar-card.kg official site, Bishkek City Hall, Alertify Beeline information):
- Beeline shop at Manas International Airport (great for travelers, since you can buy one as soon as you arrive)
- Mobile carrier shops: О! (O!) / Мегаком (MegaCom) / Beeline
- Kyrgyz Post branches
- Tulpar service centers
- Main Beeline shops: Beta Stores 2 / Besh-Sary / Dordoi / Ortosaysky / Orda business center (Ibraimova St. 115)
You can check the latest list of points of sale at tulpar-card.kg.
How to top up
* I have not actually topped up a card yet either. I will try it out to see whether it really works and add a report from the ground!
According to the official websites, travelers can top up with cash at payment terminals around the city. (Sources: Keremet Bank, CBK)
- Cash top-up: payment terminals around the city, ATMs that accept cash deposits, and terminals at Beeline shops
- The terminals are mostly in Russian and Kyrgyz
◎ Tulpar app | Usable under certain conditions
Anyone can download the app itself from Google Play and App Store, but there are conditions for using it.
- You need a Kyrgyz SIM card (with a phone number)
- You can top up the virtual card in the app with cash at payment terminals around the city
- The terminals are mostly in Russian and Kyrgyz
→ For travelers, simply buying a physical card is easier than struggling with the app.
The reality for iPhone users
It is true that “Apple Pay cannot be used in Kyrgyzstan,” but the Tulpar app itself does support iPhone. If you want to keep things simple, we recommend a physical card plus Yandex Go taxis.
Advice for Travelers
If cash payment is indeed abolished from July 1, the following preparations will give you peace of mind!
- For a short stay, buy a Tulpar card (50 som, about ¥90)
- If you make Yandex Go taxis your main way of getting around, you can move around the city without any problem even without using buses ◎
- Google Pay works in Kyrgyzstan (Source: Google Wallet Help). It can be used with Android + NFC + a supported bank card, but whether it can be used directly on buses is awaiting official confirmation
- Apple Pay is currently not supported in Kyrgyzstan(Source: Apple Support KG). Although the Tulpar app itself has an iOS version, it requires registering a Kyrgyz bank card, so for now it is hard for travelers to use
- You will still use cash (som) for things other than buses (markets, small eateries, tips, etc.), so you will still need to exchange money
The taxi app “Yandex Go” also supports cashless payment. Even without using buses, getting around Bishkek mainly by taxi is no problem at all.
Travel with Peace of Mind with ASHU TRAVEL
ASHU TRAVEL is a local travel company founded by Kyrgyz people. Our guests basically travel by private vehicle with a guide , so changes to bus fares won’t cause you any trouble.
- A Japanese- or English-speaking guide accompanies you, so no need to worry about language
- Meals, accommodation and transfers are all included, so first-timers can relax
- We take you to “experiences of nomadic culture” beyond the usual tourist spots
- We adjust itineraries flexibly based on the latest local information
Even if it is your first time in Central Asia, you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.
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