Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Isfara Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Isfara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $944 per month in Dushanbe vs $116 in Isfara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,388 per month in Dushanbe vs $247 in Isfara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,833 per month in Dushanbe vs $378 in Isfara, rent included.

Dushanbe costs about 715% more than Isfara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dushanbe and Isfara are more affordable than the global median – Dushanbe 31% lower, Isfara 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 TJS 49.85

$9.49 TJS 87.7

-43.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 TJS 152

$22.34 TJS 207

-26.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 TJS 50.3

Cappuccino

$1.77 TJS 16.39

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

$0.60 TJS 5.54

$1.21 TJS 11.17

-50.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TJS 3.69

$0.56 TJS 5.16

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 TJS 10.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 TJS 19.58

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TJS 9.77

$0.63 TJS 5.83

68.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 TJS 5.64

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 TJS 20.76

Eggs

$1.74 TJS 16.09

$1.66 TJS 15.36

4.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 TJS 89.1

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 TJS 36.84

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 TJS 106

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 TJS 16.64

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 TJS 26.54

$2.40 TJS 22.21

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 TJS 21.26

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 TJS 11.13

$0.53 TJS 4.89

126.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 TJS 5.70

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 TJS 3.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TJS 8.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 TJS 5.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 TJS 41.24

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 TJS 110

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 TJS 14.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 TJS 19.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 TJS 2.60

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.13 TJS 306

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 TJS 9.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 TJS 2.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 TJS 59.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TJS 10.98

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

$16.0K TJS 148.3K

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

$24.0K TJS 221.7K

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

$68.0 TJS 629

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

$10.05 TJS 93.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.95 TJS 157

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.38 TJS 429

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.36 TJS 133

Cinema Ticket

$5.45 TJS 50.4

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

$81.9 TJS 758

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,596 TJS 51.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.33 TJS 225

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 TJS 481

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 TJS 705

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 TJS 520

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 TJS 5,712

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 TJS 3,226

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$897 TJS 8,297

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 TJS 5,082

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,307 TJS 12.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$711 TJS 6,572

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$434 TJS 4,010

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.17

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

Last update for Dushanbe: August 31, 2026

Last update for Isfara: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Dushanbe versus $22.00 in Isfara. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Dushanbe vs $30.00 in Isfara – so Isfara 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

Dushanbe vs Isfara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dushanbe is pricier by about 715%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,416 per month in Dushanbe and $174 in Isfara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 588% more in Dushanbe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Dushanbe and $22.00 in Isfara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isfara, where all-in costs run around $116, than in Dushanbe at $944. In Isfara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dushanbe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isfara – 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 Isfara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dushanbe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.