Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Cairo Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Cairo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Samarkand vs $666 in Cairo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,023 per month in Samarkand vs $1,045 in Cairo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,413 per month in Samarkand vs $1,425 in Cairo, rent included.

Samarkand is about 5% cheaper than Cairo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Samarkand and Cairo are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 54% lower, Cairo 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.91 UZS 81.2K
$4.92 E£253
40.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.86 UZS 233.6K
$29.75 E£1,526
-33.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 UZS 56.2K
$5.98 E£307
-20.07%
Cappuccino
$2.47 UZS 29.1K
$1.80 E£92.3
37.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 UZS 8,116
$0.35 E£18.09
97.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 UZS 2,217
$0.13 E£6.79
46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
$1.49 E£76.3
0.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 UZS 26.2K
$2.33 E£120
-4.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 UZS 12.8K
$0.99 E£51.0
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.33 UZS 3,834
$0.81 E£41.80
-59.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 UZS 19.2K
$0.73 E£37.28
123.29%
Eggs
$1.39 UZS 16.3K
$1.21 E£62.0
14.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 UZS 97.4K
$4.33 E£222
91.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.38 UZS 51.5K
$5.16 E£265
-15.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.63 UZS 125.0K
$9.35 E£480
13.69%
Apples (1kg)
$0.81 UZS 9,513
$1.81 E£92.8
-55.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 UZS 21.5K
$0.79 E£40.64
131.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 UZS 20.6K
$0.61 E£31.36
186.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 UZS 20.3K
$0.54 E£27.47
220.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 UZS 5,748
$0.39 E£20.00
25.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.17 UZS 2,013
$0.42 E£21.52
-59.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 UZS 2,814
$0.34 E£17.32
-29.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 UZS 4,720
$0.24 E£12.34
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
$2.10 E£108
-20.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.32 UZS 39.0K
$7.91 E£406
-58.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 UZS 11.7K
$1.61 E£82.7
-38.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 UZS 25.1K
$2.15 E£111
-0.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 UZS 3,066
$0.34 E£17.40
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.32 UZS 39.1K
$7.76 E£398
-57.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 UZS 4,311
$0.37 E£19.18
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 UZS 3,804
$0.22 E£11.09
45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 UZS 39.9K
$1.60 E£82.0
112.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 UZS 12.9K
$0.46 E£23.68
139.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9K UZS 198.4M
$34.3K E£1.8M
-50.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K UZS 284.8M
$28.6K E£1.5M
-15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.06 UZS 506.4K
$27.11 E£1,391
58.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.86 UZS 45.4K
$8.38 E£430
-53.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.68 UZS 160.9K
$13.70 E£703
-0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.94 UZS 469.7K
$25.48 E£1,308
56.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94 UZS 81.6K
$6.81 E£350
1.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.22 UZS 37.8K
$4.17 E£214
-22.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$331 UZS 3.9M
$111 E£5,713
197.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,569 UZS 89.0M
$3,425 E£175.7K
121.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85 UZS 245.2K
$44.85 E£2,301
-53.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.23 UZS 508.4K
$47.37 E£2,431
-8.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 UZS 899.8K
$116 E£5,975
-34.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5 UZS 699.3K
$61.7 E£3,164
-3.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$250 UZS 2.9M
$215 E£11.0K
16.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 UZS 2.0M
$201 E£10.3K
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$469 UZS 5.5M
$524 E£26.9K
-10.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 UZS 3.8M
$347 E£17.8K
-7.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 UZS 14.9M
$801 E£41.1K
57.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$558 UZS 6.6M
$515 E£26.4K
8.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Cairo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$311 UZS 3.7M
$211 E£10.8K
47.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
16.21
43.80%

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

Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cairo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Samarkand versus $215 in Cairo. 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 48% higher in Samarkand, 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 $20.00 in Samarkand versus $30.00 in Cairo. Groceries tell a different story – $159 in Samarkand vs $146 in Cairo – so Cairo 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
Samarkand vs Cairo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cairo cheaper than Samarkand?
Yes – Cairo is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Samarkand and $999 in Cairo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarkand, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Samarkand and in Cairo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Cairo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Samarkand or in Cairo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Samarkand and $30.00 in Cairo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Samarkand or Cairo?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $632 in Samarkand and $666 in Cairo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Samarkand or Cairo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samarkand – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Samarkand or Cairo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samarkand. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cairo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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