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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $341 per month in Bukhara vs $552 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $523 per month in Bukhara vs $900 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $705 per month in Bukhara vs $1,247 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 74% lower, Samarkand 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 UZS 57.5K
$4.71 UZS 56.5K
1.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.10 UZS 180.8K
$17.70 UZS 211.9K
-14.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.78 UZS 45.3K
$4.45 UZS 53.3K
-15.06%
Cappuccino
$1.57 UZS 18.8K
$1.75 UZS 21.0K
-10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 UZS 5,462
$0.42 UZS 5,036
9.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 UZS 3,628
$0.25 UZS 2,990
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 UZS 27.1K
$1.24 UZS 14.8K
82.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 UZS 22.6K
$1.93 UZS 23.1K
-2.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 UZS 6,627
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
-45.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.35 UZS 4,201
$0.40 UZS 4,847
-12.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 UZS 18.9K
$1.57 UZS 18.9K
0.64%
Eggs
$1.42 UZS 17.0K
$1.25 UZS 15.0K
13.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.80 UZS 93.4K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.71 UZS 44.4K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$8.34 UZS 99.9K
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 UZS 13.9K
$0.81 UZS 9,746
43.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 UZS 20.1K
$1.74 UZS 20.9K
-3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.54 UZS 18.5K
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 UZS 23.4K
$1.47 UZS 17.5K
33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 UZS 9,350
$0.46 UZS 5,486
69.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 UZS 4,398
$0.18 UZS 2,108
105.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.23 UZS 2,735
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 UZS 3,863
$0.41 UZS 4,897
-21.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.57 UZS 18.8K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.11 UZS 49.2K
$3.36 UZS 40.2K
22.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.99 UZS 11.8K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.99 UZS 23.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 UZS 2,050
$0.23 UZS 2,739
-26.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$3.13 UZS 37.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 UZS 5,435
$0.38 UZS 4,534
18.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.14 UZS 1,680
$0.17 UZS 2,024
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40 UZS 28.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 UZS 12.2K
$0.97 UZS 11.7K
4.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.1K UZS 241.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.9K UZS 297.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$39.92 UZS 478.0K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26 UZS 51.0K
$3.50 UZS 41.9K
21.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.95 UZS 119.2K
$11.96 UZS 143.2K
-16.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$36.43 UZS 436.2K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.40 UZS 76.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$2.87 UZS 34.4K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.7 UZS 906.1K
$119 UZS 1.4M
-36.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,316 UZS 27.7M
$4,691 UZS 56.2M
-50.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.30 UZS 183.2K
$19.78 UZS 236.9K
-22.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.78 UZS 356.6K
$39.17 UZS 469.0K
-23.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.8 UZS 716.2K
$70.6 UZS 845.9K
-15.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9 UZS 717.0K
$54.5 UZS 652.5K
9.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 UZS 2.4M
$230 UZS 2.8M
-12.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.1 UZS 1.2M
$130 UZS 1.6M
-24.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 UZS 3.0M
$433 UZS 5.2M
-41.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 UZS 1.4M
$300 UZS 3.6M
-60.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$618 UZS 7.4M
$1,231 UZS 14.7M
-49.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$299 UZS 3.6M
$532 UZS 6.4M
-43.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bukhara
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$340 UZS 4.1M
$299 UZS 3.6M
13.43%
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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 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 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 $15.00 in Bukhara versus $18.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $62.0 vs $144 – 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 in Samarkand compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $341 in Bukhara, $552 in Samarkand – roughly 62% 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 $511 per month in Bukhara and $828 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 $341 in Bukhara and $552 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 $75.7 per month in Bukhara and $119 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 $341 in Bukhara and $552 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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