🙂A single person spends $921 per month in Karaganda vs $1,019 in Tashkent, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Karaganda vs $1,611 in Tashkent, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,000 per month in Karaganda vs $2,204 in Tashkent, rent included.
🙂Karaganda is about 10% cheaper than Tashkent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Karaganda and Tashkent are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda33% lower, Tashkent26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.55₸4,352
$6.62UZS 77.9K
44.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.35₸15.6K
$33.41UZS 393.0K
2.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.28₸2,406
$5.06UZS 59.5K
4.35%
Cappuccino
$1.93₸881
$2.57UZS 30.2K
-24.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90₸410
$0.70UZS 8,230
28.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₸269
$0.27UZS 3,140
118.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33₸607
$1.56UZS 18.3K
-14.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₸1,321
$3.46UZS 40.7K
-16.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24₸566
$1.25UZS 14.8K
-0.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₸200
$0.78UZS 9,185
-43.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24₸565
$1.69UZS 19.9K
-26.63%
Eggs
$1.75₸799
$1.89UZS 22.3K
-7.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90₸5,876
$8.49UZS 99.9K
51.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44₸2,477
$4.32UZS 50.8K
25.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80₸4,922
$12.82UZS 150.8K
-15.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50₸682
$1.50UZS 17.7K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.93₸880
$1.88UZS 22.2K
2.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76₸1,257
$2.38UZS 28.0K
15.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06₸938
$1.75UZS 20.6K
17.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₸296
$0.57UZS 6,678
14.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53₸242
$0.38UZS 4,507
39.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00₸458
$1.02UZS 12.0K
-1.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₸325
$0.46UZS 5,392
54.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19₸998
$2.05UZS 24.1K
6.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.93₸3,613
$7.67UZS 90.2K
3.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32₸600
$1.40UZS 16.4K
-5.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06₸938
$3.61UZS 42.4K
-42.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21₸95.4
$0.14UZS 1,680
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.94₸6,805
$12.80UZS 150.6K
16.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22₸554
$0.81UZS 9,561
50.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21₸553
$0.33UZS 3,920
266.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.27₸1,488
$3.32UZS 39.1K
-1.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54₸247
$1.15UZS 13.5K
-53.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K₸9.8M
$16.7KUZS 195.9M
29.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K₸14.1M
$24.9KUZS 293.1M
24.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.2₸32.4K
$67.1UZS 789.4K
6.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.80₸4,464
$4.25UZS 50.0K
130.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.80₸5,374
$13.79UZS 162.2K
-14.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.26₸20.2K
$62.3UZS 732.6K
-28.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14₸8,265
$18.22UZS 214.4K
-0.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.18₸2,361
$5.87UZS 69.1K
-11.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129₸58.6K
$322UZS 3.8M
-60.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,791UZS 115.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8₸26.8K
$52.4UZS 616.1K
12.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0₸26.4K
$60.3UZS 709.2K
-3.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2₸34.2K
$109UZS 1.3M
-31.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9₸39.1K
$136UZS 1.6M
-36.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392₸178.3K
$598UZS 7.0M
-34.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269₸122.6K
$380UZS 4.5M
-29.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₸323.1K
$1,205UZS 14.2M
-41.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$533₸242.7K
$729UZS 8.6M
-26.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,027₸467.7K
$1,679UZS 19.8M
-38.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$706₸321.7K
$965UZS 11.4M
-26.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$565₸257.4K
$773UZS 9.1M
-26.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.25
23.31
-17.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026
Last update for Tashkent: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Karaganda versus $598 in Tashkent. 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 37% higher in Tashkent, 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 $34.00 in Karaganda versus $33.00 in Tashkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $199 – making Tashkent 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
Karaganda vs Tashkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karaganda and in Tashkent compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $921 in Karaganda, $1,019 in Tashkent – roughly 11% apart. Tashkent costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Karaganda compared to Tashkent?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Karaganda and $1,529 in Tashkent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Karaganda and Tashkent?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Karaganda and in Tashkent?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Karaganda and Tashkent?
Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Karaganda and $322 in Tashkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Tashkent at $1,019. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tashkent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Karaganda or Tashkent?
Families tend to lean toward Karaganda – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Karaganda or Tashkent 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 Karaganda and Tashkent?
If budget matters most, go with Karaganda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tashkent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.