Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Tashkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaganda and Tashkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Karaganda vs $955 in Tashkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,187 per month in Karaganda vs $1,472 in Tashkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Karaganda vs $1,989 in Tashkent, rent included.

Karaganda is about 21% cheaper than Tashkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karaganda and Tashkent are more affordable than the global median – Karaganda 44% lower, Tashkent 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.53 ₸4,180
$4.75 UZS 56.7K
79.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.67 ₸14.5K
$31.85 UZS 380.0K
-6.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 ₸2,437
$4.77 UZS 57.0K
4.19%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₸907
$1.92 UZS 22.9K
-3.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₸343
$0.59 UZS 7,047
18.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₸228
$0.25 UZS 2,970
88.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ₸467
$1.39 UZS 16.6K
-31.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ₸1,473
$3.86 UZS 46.0K
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 ₸463
$1.06 UZS 12.7K
-11.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸215
$0.41 UZS 4,913
7.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 ₸638
$1.68 UZS 20.0K
-22.62%
Eggs
$1.73 ₸845
$1.43 UZS 17.1K
20.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.48 ₸4,644
$7.64 UZS 91.2K
24.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 ₸2,079
$3.70 UZS 44.1K
14.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.25 ₸3,555
$8.64 UZS 103.0K
-16.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 ₸646
$1.31 UZS 15.7K
0.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₸711
$1.76 UZS 21.0K
-17.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₸929
$2.22 UZS 26.5K
-14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₸971
$1.45 UZS 17.3K
36.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 ₸273
$0.48 UZS 5,679
16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₸200
$0.31 UZS 3,749
32.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ₸486
$0.57 UZS 6,779
73.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₸372
$0.40 UZS 4,801
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79 ₸878
$2.03 UZS 24.3K
-11.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 ₸3,857
$6.79 UZS 81.0K
15.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸487
$1.08 UZS 12.9K
-8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₸807
$3.06 UZS 36.5K
-46.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₸108
$0.15 UZS 1,792
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.56 ₸5,666
$11.20 UZS 133.7K
3.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ₸872
$0.76 UZS 9,083
134.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 ₸222
$0.31 UZS 3,741
45.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 ₸2,148
$3.48 UZS 41.5K
25.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.45 ₸219
$1.00 UZS 12.0K
-55.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ₸9.3M
$19.7K UZS 234.5M
-3.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K ₸12.3M
$25.3K UZS 301.5M
-0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.9 ₸26.4K
$44.94 UZS 536.1K
19.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04 ₸3,941
$3.69 UZS 44.0K
117.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.00 ₸6,372
$11.52 UZS 137.4K
12.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.29 ₸15.8K
$45.68 UZS 545.0K
-29.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76 ₸5,764
$13.58 UZS 162.0K
-13.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.47 ₸2,191
$5.33 UZS 63.6K
-16.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 ₸117.4K
$295 UZS 3.5M
-18.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,875 ₸2.4M
$9,001 UZS 107.4M
-45.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 ₸27.2K
$42.86 UZS 511.3K
29.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64 ₸17.5K
$48.43 UZS 577.7K
-26.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 ₸42.5K
$103 UZS 1.2M
-16.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9 ₸41.1K
$128 UZS 1.5M
-34.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 ₸163.0K
$625 UZS 7.5M
-46.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$210 ₸102.9K
$409 UZS 4.9M
-48.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$569 ₸279.0K
$1,184 UZS 14.1M
-51.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 ₸195.8K
$736 UZS 8.8M
-45.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$977 ₸478.5K
$1,626 UZS 19.4M
-39.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₸319.8K
$934 UZS 11.1M
-30.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$523 ₸256.2K
$660 UZS 7.9M
-20.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.12
22.07
-26.96%

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

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tashkent: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Karaganda versus $625 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 26% 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 $30.00 in Karaganda versus $32.00 in Tashkent. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Karaganda vs $162 in Tashkent – so Tashkent 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
Karaganda vs Tashkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karaganda and Tashkent compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $752 in Karaganda, $955 in Tashkent – roughly 27% apart. Tashkent costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Karaganda compared to Tashkent?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,127 per month in Karaganda and $1,432 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 Tashkent?
Public transport costs about 3% 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 $240 per month in Karaganda and $295 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 $752, than in Tashkent at $955. 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.

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