🙂A single person spends $335 per month in Bukhara vs $539 in Samarkand, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $505 per month in Bukhara vs $895 in Samarkand, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $675 per month in Bukhara vs $1,251 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 – Bukhara75% lower, Samarkand60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89UZS 59.0K
$4.72UZS 57.1K
3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.81UZS 178.8K
$17.24UZS 208.2K
-14.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.77UZS 45.5K
$4.22UZS 51.0K
-10.66%
Cappuccino
$1.56UZS 18.8K
$1.80UZS 21.8K
-13.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49UZS 5,896
$0.43UZS 5,144
13.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30UZS 3,650
$0.25UZS 3,000
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34UZS 28.3K
$1.28UZS 15.4K
82.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89UZS 22.8K
$2.00UZS 24.2K
-5.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.52UZS 6,301
$1.05UZS 12.7K
-50.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.35UZS 4,251
$0.38UZS 4,575
-7.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57UZS 19.0K
$1.58UZS 19.1K
-0.63%
Eggs
$1.34UZS 16.2K
$1.26UZS 15.2K
6.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$7.87UZS 95.1K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.73UZS 45.0K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.78UZS 106.0K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.12UZS 13.5K
$0.83UZS 10.0K
34.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66UZS 20.1K
$1.74UZS 21.0K
-4.60%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.63UZS 19.6K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.94UZS 23.5K
$1.50UZS 18.2K
29.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79UZS 9,558
$0.48UZS 5,817
64.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39UZS 4,734
$0.17UZS 2,053
129.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.25UZS 3,035
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29UZS 3,561
$0.38UZS 4,570
-23.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.61UZS 19.4K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$3.22UZS 38.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.96UZS 11.6K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02UZS 24.4K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14UZS 1,720
$0.25UZS 3,034
-44.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.08UZS 37.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45UZS 5,471
$0.38UZS 4,586
18.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.15UZS 1,847
$0.18UZS 2,159
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.33UZS 28.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98UZS 11.9K
$0.94UZS 11.4K
4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.0KUZS 241.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.8KUZS 299.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$38.84UZS 469.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20UZS 50.7K
$3.58UZS 43.2K
17.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.16UZS 122.7K
$11.68UZS 141.0K
-13.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$36.27UZS 438.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.40UZS 77.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$2.95UZS 35.6K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$76.2UZS 920.5K
$118UZS 1.4M
-35.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,349UZS 28.4M
$4,645UZS 56.1M
-49.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.75UZS 178.1K
$19.54UZS 236.1K
-24.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.97UZS 361.9K
$39.93UZS 482.2K
-24.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7UZS 721.4K
$71.2UZS 860.0K
-16.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.3UZS 728.1K
$56.1UZS 677.4K
7.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203UZS 2.5M
$227UZS 2.7M
-10.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102UZS 1.2M
$129UZS 1.6M
-20.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245UZS 3.0M
$431UZS 5.2M
-43.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120UZS 1.4M
$298UZS 3.6M
-59.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$623UZS 7.5M
$1,248UZS 15.1M
-50.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$306UZS 3.7M
$546UZS 6.6M
-43.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$332UZS 4.0M
$293UZS 3.5M
13.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
22.07
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bukhara: April 21, 2026
Last update for Samarkand: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $203 in Bukhara versus $227 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 13% 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 in Bukhara versus $17 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $52 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
How do living costs in Bukhara and Samarkand compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $335 in Bukhara, $539 in Samarkand – roughly 61% apart. Samarkand costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bukhara compared to Samarkand?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $502 per month in Bukhara and $809 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 $335 in Bukhara and $539 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 $76.2 per month in Bukhara and $118 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 vs Samarkand?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $335 in Bukhara and $539 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.