Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Bukhara Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Bukhara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $552 per month in Samarkand vs $341 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $900 per month in Samarkand vs $523 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,247 per month in Samarkand vs $705 in Bukhara, rent included.

Samarkand costs about 62% more than Bukhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Samarkand and Bukhara are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 59% lower, Bukhara 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 UZS 56.5K

$4.80 UZS 57.5K

-1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.70 UZS 211.9K

$15.10 UZS 180.8K

17.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.45 UZS 53.3K

$3.78 UZS 45.3K

17.72%

Cappuccino

$1.75 UZS 21.0K

$1.57 UZS 18.8K

11.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 UZS 5,036

$0.46 UZS 5,462

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UZS 2,990

$0.30 UZS 3,628

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 UZS 14.8K

$2.26 UZS 27.1K

-45.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 UZS 23.1K

$1.89 UZS 22.6K

2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 UZS 12.1K

$0.55 UZS 6,627

83.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 UZS 4,847

$0.35 UZS 4,201

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 UZS 18.9K

$1.58 UZS 18.9K

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.25 UZS 15.0K

$1.42 UZS 17.0K

-11.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 UZS 93.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 UZS 44.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.34 UZS 99.9K

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 UZS 9,746

$1.16 UZS 13.9K

-30.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 UZS 20.9K

$1.68 UZS 20.1K

3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 UZS 18.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 UZS 17.5K

$1.96 UZS 23.4K

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 UZS 5,486

$0.78 UZS 9,350

-41.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.18 UZS 2,108

$0.37 UZS 4,398

-51.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 UZS 2,735

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 UZS 4,897

$0.32 UZS 3,863

28.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 UZS 18.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$3.36 UZS 40.2K

$4.11 UZS 49.2K

-18.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 UZS 11.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 UZS 23.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 UZS 2,739

$0.17 UZS 2,050

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.13 UZS 37.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 UZS 4,534

$0.45 UZS 5,435

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 UZS 2,024

$0.14 UZS 1,680

21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 UZS 28.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 UZS 11.7K

$1.01 UZS 12.2K

-3.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.1K UZS 241.2M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K UZS 297.9M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.92 UZS 478.0K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.50 UZS 41.9K

$4.26 UZS 51.0K

-17.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.96 UZS 143.2K

$9.95 UZS 119.2K

20.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.43 UZS 436.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.40 UZS 76.6K

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 UZS 34.4K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$119 UZS 1.4M

$75.7 UZS 906.1K

56.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,691 UZS 56.2M

$2,316 UZS 27.7M

102.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 UZS 236.9K

$15.30 UZS 183.2K

29.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 UZS 469.0K

$29.78 UZS 356.6K

31.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 UZS 845.9K

$59.8 UZS 716.2K

18.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 UZS 652.5K

$59.9 UZS 717.0K

-8.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 UZS 2.8M

$202 UZS 2.4M

13.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 UZS 1.6M

$98.1 UZS 1.2M

32.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 UZS 5.2M

$255 UZS 3.0M

69.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 UZS 3.6M

$118 UZS 1.4M

155.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 UZS 14.7M

$618 UZS 7.4M

99.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 UZS 6.4M

$299 UZS 3.6M

78.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$299 UZS 3.6M

$340 UZS 4.1M

-11.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.07

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

Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $230 in Samarkand versus $202 in Bukhara. 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 13% higher in Bukhara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Samarkand versus $15.00 in Bukhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $62.0 – making Bukhara 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

Samarkand vs Bukhara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $552 in Samarkand, $341 in Bukhara – roughly 62% apart. Samarkand costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $828 per month in Samarkand and $511 in Bukhara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukhara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $552 in Samarkand and $341 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $119 per month in Samarkand and $75.7 in Bukhara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $552 in Samarkand and $341 in Bukhara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bukhara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bukhara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Samarkand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.