Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Khujand Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Khujand

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $938 per month in Dushanbe vs $689 in Khujand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,391 per month in Dushanbe vs $1,093 in Khujand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,843 per month in Dushanbe vs $1,496 in Khujand, rent included.

Dushanbe costs about 36% more than Khujand, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dushanbe and Khujand are more affordable than the global median – Dushanbe 32% lower, Khujand 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.93 TJS 45.65
$5.00 TJS 46.27
-1.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.33 TJS 188
$17.54 TJS 162
15.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 TJS 50.5
$5.50 TJS 50.9
-0.91%
Cappuccino
$1.74 TJS 16.07
$1.65 TJS 15.22
5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 TJS 5.31
$0.52 TJS 4.78
9.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TJS 3.37
$0.33 TJS 3.09
9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 TJS 10.88
$1.17 TJS 10.84
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 TJS 21.57
$2.32 TJS 21.43
0.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 TJS 9.87
$1.01 TJS 9.34
5.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 TJS 5.61
$0.49 TJS 4.54
24.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 TJS 22.66
$1.83 TJS 16.96
33.88%
Eggs
$1.76 TJS 16.25
$1.84 TJS 17.06
-4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.83 TJS 100
$11.23 TJS 104
-3.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.29 TJS 39.69
$3.31 TJS 30.60
29.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.35 TJS 105
$11.42 TJS 106
-0.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 TJS 17.78
$1.50 TJS 13.83
28.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 TJS 25.88
$2.26 TJS 20.93
23.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 TJS 24.88
$2.67 TJS 24.72
0.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 TJS 11.72
$0.68 TJS 6.26
86.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 TJS 5.50
$0.52 TJS 4.82
13.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 TJS 3.71
$0.35 TJS 3.27
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 TJS 8.13
$0.88 TJS 8.15
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 TJS 6.09
$0.59 TJS 5.48
11.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 TJS 34.36
$2.20 TJS 20.35
68.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.20 TJS 104
$11.46 TJS 106
-2.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 TJS 13.42
$1.46 TJS 13.52
-0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 TJS 18.99
$2.13 TJS 19.74
-3.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 TJS 2.40
$0.33 TJS 3.08
-21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.94 TJS 305
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 TJS 9.72
$1.06 TJS 9.85
-0.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TJS 2.86
$0.31 TJS 2.84
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.36 TJS 58.9
$5.39 TJS 49.91
18.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 TJS 10.87
$1.15 TJS 10.60
1.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.6K TJS 153.2K
$16.5K TJS 152.3K
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K TJS 224.5K
$17.3K TJS 159.8K
40.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.6 TJS 625
$46.69 TJS 432
44.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.91 TJS 91.7
$6.31 TJS 58.3
57.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.29 TJS 160
$16.85 TJS 156
2.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.95 TJS 416
$27.97 TJS 259
60.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47 TJS 134
$15.99 TJS 148
-9.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 TJS 50.4
$4.29 TJS 39.68
27.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.6 TJS 783
$82.0 TJS 758
3.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,590 TJS 51.7K
$5,734 TJS 53.1K
-2.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.50 TJS 227
$21.09 TJS 195
16.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 TJS 481
$35.41 TJS 328
46.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.1 TJS 722
$50.8 TJS 470
53.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.9 TJS 517
$56.3 TJS 521
-0.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 TJS 5,819
$270 TJS 2,494
133.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 TJS 3,316
$216 TJS 1,995
66.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$868 TJS 8,026
$518 TJS 4,788
67.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 TJS 5,197
$430 TJS 3,974
30.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,303 TJS 12.1K
$871 TJS 8,062
49.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$697 TJS 6,448
$550 TJS 5,085
26.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dushanbe
Khujand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$449 TJS 4,158
$356 TJS 3,292
26.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.17
22
5.32%

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

Last update for Dushanbe: September 6, 2026

Last update for Khujand: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $629 in Dushanbe versus $270 in Khujand. 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 26% higher in Dushanbe, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Dushanbe versus $18.00 in Khujand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $197 – making Khujand 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
Dushanbe vs Khujand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khujand cheaper than Dushanbe?
Yes – Dushanbe is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,407 per month in Dushanbe and $1,034 in Khujand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khujand, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Dushanbe or in Khujand?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Dushanbe and $18.00 in Khujand. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Dushanbe and in Khujand?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Dushanbe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Dushanbe or in Khujand?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Khujand, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Dushanbe at $938. In Khujand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dushanbe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dushanbe or Khujand more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Khujand – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dushanbe or Khujand?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Khujand. 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.

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