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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $539 per month in Samarkand vs $335 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $895 per month in Samarkand vs $505 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,251 per month in Samarkand vs $675 in Bukhara, rent included.

Samarkand costs about 61% more than Bukhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Samarkand and Bukhara are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 60% lower, Bukhara 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 UZS 57.1K

$4.89 UZS 59.0K

-3.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.24 UZS 208.2K

$14.81 UZS 178.8K

16.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.22 UZS 51.0K

$3.77 UZS 45.5K

11.94%

Cappuccino

$1.80 UZS 21.8K

$1.56 UZS 18.8K

15.38%

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

$0.43 UZS 5,144

$0.49 UZS 5,896

-12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UZS 3,000

$0.30 UZS 3,650

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 UZS 15.4K

$2.34 UZS 28.3K

-45.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 UZS 24.2K

$1.89 UZS 22.8K

5.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 UZS 12.7K

$0.52 UZS 6,301

101.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 UZS 4,575

$0.35 UZS 4,251

8.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 UZS 19.1K

$1.57 UZS 19.0K

0.64%

Eggs

$1.26 UZS 15.2K

$1.34 UZS 16.2K

-5.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 UZS 95.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 UZS 45.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 UZS 106.0K

Apples (1kg)

$0.83 UZS 10.0K

$1.12 UZS 13.5K

-25.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 UZS 21.0K

$1.66 UZS 20.1K

4.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 UZS 19.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 UZS 18.2K

$1.94 UZS 23.5K

-22.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 UZS 5,817

$0.79 UZS 9,558

-39.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.17 UZS 2,053

$0.39 UZS 4,734

-56.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.25 UZS 3,035

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 UZS 4,570

$0.29 UZS 3,561

31.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.61 UZS 19.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$3.22 UZS 38.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 UZS 11.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 UZS 24.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 UZS 3,034

$0.14 UZS 1,720

78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.08 UZS 37.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 UZS 4,586

$0.45 UZS 5,471

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 UZS 2,159

$0.15 UZS 1,847

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 UZS 28.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 UZS 11.4K

$0.98 UZS 11.9K

-4.08%

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

$20.0K UZS 241.3M

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

$24.8K UZS 299.2M

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

$38.84 UZS 469.1K

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

$3.58 UZS 43.2K

$4.20 UZS 50.7K

-14.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.68 UZS 141.0K

$10.16 UZS 122.7K

14.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.27 UZS 438.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.40 UZS 77.3K

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 UZS 35.6K

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

$118 UZS 1.4M

$76.2 UZS 920.5K

54.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,645 UZS 56.1M

$2,349 UZS 28.4M

97.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 UZS 236.1K

$14.75 UZS 178.1K

32.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.93 UZS 482.2K

$29.97 UZS 361.9K

33.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 UZS 860.0K

$59.7 UZS 721.4K

19.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 UZS 677.4K

$60.3 UZS 728.1K

-6.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 UZS 2.7M

$203 UZS 2.5M

11.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$129 UZS 1.6M

$102 UZS 1.2M

26.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 UZS 5.2M

$245 UZS 3.0M

75.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 UZS 3.6M

$120 UZS 1.4M

148.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,248 UZS 15.1M

$623 UZS 7.5M

100.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$546 UZS 6.6M

$306 UZS 3.7M

78.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$293 UZS 3.5M

$332 UZS 4.0M

-11.68%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $227 in Samarkand versus $203 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 $17 in Samarkand versus $15 in Bukhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $52 – 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: $539 in Samarkand, $335 in Bukhara – roughly 61% apart. Samarkand costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $809 per month in Samarkand and $502 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 $539 in Samarkand and $335 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Samarkand and $76.2 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 $539 in Samarkand and $335 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.