Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kunming, Yunnan and Tashkent

For one person, living is cheaper in Kunming, Yunnan: $776 a month against $1,038 in Tashkent, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kunming, Yunnan
🇨🇳 China
$776
/mo nomad
Tashkent
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$1,038
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kunming, Yunnan and in Tashkent

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kunming, Yunnan and in Tashkent actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $1,038 in Tashkent.

  • Kunming, Yunnan $776
  • Tashkent $1,038

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,220 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $1,636 in Tashkent.

  • Kunming, Yunnan $1,220
  • Tashkent $1,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,665 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $2,234 in Tashkent.

  • Kunming, Yunnan $1,665
  • Tashkent $2,234

Living in Kunming, Yunnan costs roughly 25% less than in Tashkent, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kunming, Yunnan 43% lower, Tashkent 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ¥15.07
$6.54 UZS 78.8K
-65.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.23 ¥148
$34.23 UZS 412.5K
-35.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 ¥43.12
$5.12 UZS 61.7K
26.17%
Cappuccino
$2.87 ¥19.18
$2.62 UZS 31.6K
9.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.22
$0.71 UZS 8,593
-32.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.91
$0.33 UZS 3,921
-12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 ¥9.81
$2.16 UZS 26.0K
-31.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ¥14.55
$3.79 UZS 45.7K
-42.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥11.82
$1.26 UZS 15.2K
40.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 ¥11.66
$0.86 UZS 10.4K
103.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.14
$1.64 UZS 19.8K
-7.32%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥10.68
$1.78 UZS 21.4K
-10.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ¥48.88
$7.93 UZS 95.5K
-7.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 ¥30.12
$4.19 UZS 50.5K
7.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.10 ¥80.8
$12.60 UZS 151.8K
-3.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ¥9.08
$1.53 UZS 18.5K
-11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ¥7.34
$1.80 UZS 21.7K
-38.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ¥10.47
$2.32 UZS 28.0K
-32.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.24
$1.71 UZS 20.7K
-28.07%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ¥2.56
$0.55 UZS 6,683
-30.91%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.15
$0.38 UZS 4,526
142.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 ¥11.20
$1.03 UZS 12.4K
63.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ¥4.26
$0.48 UZS 5,799
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 ¥19.60
$2.07 UZS 24.9K
42.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.63 ¥44.29
$7.66 UZS 92.3K
-13.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.08
$1.36 UZS 16.4K
-44.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥9.82
$3.64 UZS 43.9K
-59.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ¥5.16
$0.16 UZS 1,937
381.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.06 ¥201
$12.52 UZS 150.8K
140.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ¥10.10
$0.81 UZS 9,790
86.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ¥2.07
$0.36 UZS 4,376
-13.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.77 ¥98.6
$3.30 UZS 39.8K
347.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ¥8.17
$1.15 UZS 13.9K
6.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥132.7K
$16.6K UZS 200.4M
19.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K ¥117.9K
$24.0K UZS 289.1M
-26.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.2 ¥362
$68.1 UZS 821.0K
-20.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.62 ¥97.6
$4.49 UZS 54.1K
225.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.74 ¥118
$13.64 UZS 164.4K
30.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.16 ¥282
$62.6 UZS 754.2K
-32.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.91 ¥173
$18.78 UZS 226.3K
37.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.85 ¥39.09
$5.98 UZS 72.1K
-2.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$360 ¥2,406
$328 UZS 4.0M
9.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K ¥91.5K
$9,455 UZS 113.9M
44.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ¥472
$49.10 UZS 591.7K
43.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 ¥356
$58.8 UZS 708.4K
-9.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 ¥508
$113 UZS 1.4M
-32.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ¥740
$140 UZS 1.7M
-20.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$238 ¥1,591
$600 UZS 7.2M
-60.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ¥1,206
$382 UZS 4.6M
-52.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 ¥3,708
$1,210 UZS 14.6M
-54.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ¥2,147
$714 UZS 8.6M
-54.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,089 ¥20.6K
$1,585 UZS 19.1M
94.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,284 ¥8,573
$945 UZS 11.4M
35.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kunming, Yunnan
Tashkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$872 ¥5,824
$711 UZS 8.6M
22.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.6
23.31
-84.56%

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

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tashkent: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kunming, Yunnan
$192
Tashkent
$195 2% $3.8
Accommodation & Living
Kunming, Yunnan
$181
Tashkent
$382 112% $202
Clothing & Footwear
Kunming, Yunnan
$140
Tashkent
$162 15.9% $22
Eating Out
Kunming, Yunnan
$87
Tashkent
$122 40.4% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kunming, Yunnan
$87
Tashkent
$86 0.3% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Kunming, Yunnan
$54
Tashkent
$75 38.4% $21
Getting Around
Kunming, Yunnan
$36
Tashkent
$16 56.4% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Kunming, Yunnan and $600 in Tashkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kunming, Yunnan pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Kunming, Yunnan vs $34.00 in Tashkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $195 per month, with Kunming, Yunnan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Kunming, Yunnan
🇺🇿 Tashkent
🕒 Local time
08:24 8:24 AM
05:24 5:24 AM
3 h behind Kunming, Yunnan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,583,000
2,956,384 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UZS, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.51 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 12,051 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.3 USD). 1 EUR = 13,548 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kunming, Yunnan Tashkent 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kunming, Yunnan
  • Tashkent

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kunming, Yunnan vs Tashkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kunming, Yunnan or Tashkent?
Kunming, Yunnan wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Tashkent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kunming, Yunnan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kunming, Yunnan or in Tashkent?
Average pay runs 23% higher in Kunming, Yunnan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kunming, Yunnan compared to Tashkent?
Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $600 in Tashkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kunming, Yunnan and in Tashkent?
Dining out is cheaper in Kunming, Yunnan – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $34.00 in Tashkent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kunming, Yunnan compared to Tashkent?
All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Kunming, Yunnan versus $1,038 in Tashkent – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kunming, Yunnan or in Tashkent?
At $776 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $1,038 in Tashkent, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kunming, Yunnan but tight or insufficient in Tashkent. The gap between the two cities makes Kunming, Yunnan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kunming, Yunnan or Tashkent?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Kunming, Yunnan compared to Tashkent?
Safety-wise, Kunming, Yunnan and Tashkent are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kunming, Yunnan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Tashkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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