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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Bukhara 75% lower, Samarkand 60% lower.

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

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