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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $336 per month in Bukhara vs $540 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $516 per month in Bukhara vs $884 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $696 per month in Bukhara vs $1,228 in Samarkand, rent included.

Bukhara is about 38% cheaper than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bukhara and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Bukhara 75% lower, Samarkand 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.76 UZS 57.4K

$4.52 UZS 54.5K

5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.07 UZS 181.6K

$17.65 UZS 212.6K

-14.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.91 UZS 47.1K

$4.30 UZS 51.8K

-9.07%

Cappuccino

$1.60 UZS 19.3K

$1.75 UZS 21.1K

-8.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 UZS 5,459

$0.42 UZS 5,078

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UZS 3,358

$0.25 UZS 3,001

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 UZS 28.6K

$1.30 UZS 15.6K

82.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 UZS 23.5K

$2.01 UZS 24.2K

-2.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 UZS 6,256

$1.01 UZS 12.1K

-48.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 UZS 4,233

$0.41 UZS 4,926

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 UZS 18.9K

$1.58 UZS 19.0K

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.41 UZS 16.9K

$1.32 UZS 15.9K

6.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 UZS 92.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 UZS 44.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 UZS 105.4K

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 UZS 14.2K

$0.76 UZS 9,206

55.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 UZS 20.0K

$1.69 UZS 20.4K

-1.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 UZS 19.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 UZS 22.8K

$1.52 UZS 18.4K

24.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 UZS 9,400

$0.48 UZS 5,794

62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 UZS 4,416

$0.16 UZS 1,932

131.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.25 UZS 3,029

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 UZS 3,595

$0.40 UZS 4,837

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 UZS 19.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$4.08 UZS 49.2K

$3.37 UZS 40.6K

21.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 UZS 11.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 UZS 24.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 UZS 2,036

$0.25 UZS 3,016

-32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.18 UZS 38.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 UZS 5,496

$0.38 UZS 4,539

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 UZS 1,896

$0.19 UZS 2,317

-15.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 UZS 28.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 UZS 11.8K

$0.95 UZS 11.5K

3.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.1K UZS 241.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K UZS 304.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$38.86 UZS 468.2K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.28 UZS 51.6K

$3.67 UZS 44.3K

16.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.04 UZS 121.0K

$11.65 UZS 140.4K

-13.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.09 UZS 434.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.13 UZS 73.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 UZS 34.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$77.8 UZS 937.8K

$117 UZS 1.4M

-33.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,353 UZS 28.4M

$4,734 UZS 57.0M

-50.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 UZS 180.2K

$19.72 UZS 237.6K

-24.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.29 UZS 364.9K

$39.41 UZS 474.8K

-23.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 UZS 725.1K

$71.3 UZS 858.7K

-15.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 UZS 713.9K

$54.6 UZS 658.2K

8.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 UZS 2.4M

$230 UZS 2.8M

-13.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 UZS 1.2M

$129 UZS 1.6M

-21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 UZS 3.0M

$440 UZS 5.3M

-43.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 UZS 1.5M

$296 UZS 3.6M

-59.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$628 UZS 7.6M

$1,229 UZS 14.8M

-48.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$300 UZS 3.6M

$533 UZS 6.4M

-43.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$331 UZS 4.0M

$306 UZS 3.7M

8.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.07

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

Last update for Bukhara: June 7, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Bukhara versus $230 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 8% 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 $15.00 in Bukhara versus $18.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $61.0 vs $145 – making Bukhara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $336 in Bukhara, $540 in Samarkand – roughly 61% apart. Samarkand costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $504 per month in Bukhara and $809 in Samarkand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $336 in Bukhara and $540 in Samarkand. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $77.8 per month in Bukhara and $117 in Samarkand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $336 in Bukhara and $540 in Samarkand, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

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.