Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukhara and Samarkand Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukhara and Samarkand

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Bukhara vs $632 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $761 per month in Bukhara vs $1,023 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,016 per month in Bukhara vs $1,413 in Samarkand, rent included.

Bukhara is about 20% cheaper than Samarkand, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bukhara and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Bukhara 63% lower, Samarkand 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00 UZS 82.3K
$6.91 UZS 81.2K
1.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.29 UZS 191.6K
$19.86 UZS 233.6K
-17.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.17 UZS 49.0K
$4.78 UZS 56.2K
-12.76%
Cappuccino
$1.83 UZS 21.5K
$2.47 UZS 29.1K
-25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 UZS 7,044
$0.69 UZS 8,116
-13.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 UZS 3,721
$0.19 UZS 2,217
68.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 UZS 24.3K
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
38.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 UZS 27.7K
$2.23 UZS 26.2K
5.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 UZS 12.2K
$1.08 UZS 12.8K
-3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.39 UZS 4,606
$0.33 UZS 3,834
18.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 UZS 15.4K
$1.63 UZS 19.2K
-19.63%
Eggs
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
$1.39 UZS 16.3K
7.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.79 UZS 126.9K
$8.28 UZS 97.4K
30.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 UZS 44.0K
$4.38 UZS 51.5K
-14.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.51 UZS 100.1K
$10.63 UZS 125.0K
-19.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 UZS 14.5K
$0.81 UZS 9,513
51.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 UZS 20.4K
$1.83 UZS 21.5K
-4.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.52 UZS 29.7K
$1.75 UZS 20.6K
44.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 UZS 23.1K
$1.73 UZS 20.3K
13.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 UZS 6,484
$0.49 UZS 5,748
12.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.27 UZS 3,171
$0.17 UZS 2,013
58.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.19 UZS 2,290
$0.24 UZS 2,814
-20.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 UZS 4,139
$0.40 UZS 4,720
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 UZS 25.2K
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
28.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.12 UZS 48.5K
$3.32 UZS 39.0K
24.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 UZS 12.6K
$0.99 UZS 11.7K
8.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 UZS 40.2K
$2.14 UZS 25.1K
59.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 UZS 2,191
$0.26 UZS 3,066
-26.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$3.32 UZS 39.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 UZS 3,477
$0.37 UZS 4,311
-18.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 UZS 3,081
$0.32 UZS 3,804
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.17 UZS 72.5K
$3.40 UZS 39.9K
81.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 UZS 14.2K
$1.10 UZS 12.9K
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$16.9K UZS 198.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.2K UZS 284.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.85 UZS 362.9K
$43.06 UZS 506.4K
-28.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.64 UZS 54.5K
$3.86 UZS 45.4K
20.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.61 UZS 136.5K
$13.68 UZS 160.9K
-15.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.94 UZS 469.7K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.94 UZS 81.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.22 UZS 37.8K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$76.4 UZS 898.8K
$331 UZS 3.9M
-76.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,348 UZS 27.6M
$7,569 UZS 89.0M
-68.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.12 UZS 177.8K
$20.85 UZS 245.2K
-27.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.64 UZS 348.6K
$43.23 UZS 508.4K
-31.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.4 UZS 698.8K
$76.5 UZS 899.8K
-22.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 UZS 697.6K
$59.5 UZS 699.3K
-0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 UZS 2.4M
$250 UZS 2.9M
-19.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.4 UZS 1.2M
$166 UZS 2.0M
-40.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 UZS 3.0M
$469 UZS 5.5M
-46.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 UZS 1.4M
$319 UZS 3.8M
-62.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$626 UZS 7.4M
$1,263 UZS 14.9M
-50.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 UZS 3.5M
$558 UZS 6.6M
-46.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 UZS 4.0M
$311 UZS 3.7M
9.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
23.31
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bukhara: September 8, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in Bukhara versus $250 in Samarkand. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Bukhara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Bukhara versus $20.00 in Samarkand. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Bukhara vs $159 in Samarkand – so Samarkand wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bukhara vs Samarkand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bukhara and in Samarkand compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $506 in Bukhara, $632 in Samarkand – roughly 25% apart. Samarkand costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bukhara compared to Samarkand?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $760 per month in Bukhara and $948 in Samarkand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bukhara and Samarkand?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukhara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bukhara or Samarkand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $506 in Bukhara and $632 in Samarkand. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bukhara and Samarkand?
Kindergarten costs $76.4 per month in Bukhara and $331 in Samarkand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Bukhara compared to Samarkand?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $506 in Bukhara and $632 in Samarkand, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Bukhara or Samarkand?
Families tend to lean toward Bukhara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Bukhara or Samarkand safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bukhara and Samarkand?
If budget matters most, go with Bukhara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Samarkand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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