🙂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 – Karaganda44% lower, Tashkent29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.53₸4,180
$4.75UZS 56.7K
79.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.67₸14.5K
$31.85UZS 380.0K
-6.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97₸2,437
$4.77UZS 57.0K
4.19%
Cappuccino
$1.85₸907
$1.92UZS 22.9K
-3.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70₸343
$0.59UZS 7,047
18.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₸228
$0.25UZS 2,970
88.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95₸467
$1.39UZS 16.6K
-31.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01₸1,473
$3.86UZS 46.0K
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94₸463
$1.06UZS 12.7K
-11.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₸215
$0.41UZS 4,913
7.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30₸638
$1.68UZS 20.0K
-22.62%
Eggs
$1.73₸845
$1.43UZS 17.1K
20.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.48₸4,644
$7.64UZS 91.2K
24.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.24₸2,079
$3.70UZS 44.1K
14.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.25₸3,555
$8.64UZS 103.0K
-16.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32₸646
$1.31UZS 15.7K
0.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₸711
$1.76UZS 21.0K
-17.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89₸929
$2.22UZS 26.5K
-14.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98₸971
$1.45UZS 17.3K
36.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56₸273
$0.48UZS 5,679
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41₸200
$0.31UZS 3,749
32.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99₸486
$0.57UZS 6,779
73.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76₸372
$0.40UZS 4,801
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79₸878
$2.03UZS 24.3K
-11.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.87₸3,857
$6.79UZS 81.0K
15.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99₸487
$1.08UZS 12.9K
-8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65₸807
$3.06UZS 36.5K
-46.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₸108
$0.15UZS 1,792
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.56₸5,666
$11.20UZS 133.7K
3.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.78₸872
$0.76UZS 9,083
134.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45₸222
$0.31UZS 3,741
45.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.38₸2,148
$3.48UZS 41.5K
25.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.45₸219
$1.00UZS 12.0K
-55.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K₸9.3M
$19.7KUZS 234.5M
-3.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K₸12.3M
$25.3KUZS 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
$44.94UZS 536.1K
19.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04₸3,941
$3.69UZS 44.0K
117.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.00₸6,372
$11.52UZS 137.4K
12.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.29₸15.8K
$45.68UZS 545.0K
-29.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76₸5,764
$13.58UZS 162.0K
-13.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.47₸2,191
$5.33UZS 63.6K
-16.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$240₸117.4K
$295UZS 3.5M
-18.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,875₸2.4M
$9,001UZS 107.4M
-45.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6₸27.2K
$42.86UZS 511.3K
29.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64₸17.5K
$48.43UZS 577.7K
-26.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6₸42.5K
$103UZS 1.2M
-16.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9₸41.1K
$128UZS 1.5M
-34.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333₸163.0K
$625UZS 7.5M
-46.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210₸102.9K
$409UZS 4.9M
-48.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569₸279.0K
$1,184UZS 14.1M
-51.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400₸195.8K
$736UZS 8.8M
-45.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$977₸478.5K
$1,626UZS 19.4M
-39.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$653₸319.8K
$934UZS 11.1M
-30.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaganda
Tashkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$523₸256.2K
$660UZS 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.