Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $955 per month in Tashkent vs $752 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,472 per month in Tashkent vs $1,187 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,989 per month in Tashkent vs $1,623 in Karaganda, rent included.

Tashkent costs about 27% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tashkent and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 29% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 UZS 56.7K

$8.53 ₸4,180

-44.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.85 UZS 380.0K

$29.67 ₸14.5K

7.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 UZS 57.0K

$4.97 ₸2,437

-4.02%

Cappuccino

$1.92 UZS 22.9K

$1.85 ₸907

3.78%

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

$0.59 UZS 7,047

$0.70 ₸343

-15.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UZS 2,970

$0.47 ₸228

-46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 UZS 16.6K

$0.95 ₸467

46.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 UZS 46.0K

$3.01 ₸1,473

28.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 UZS 12.7K

$0.94 ₸463

12.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 UZS 4,913

$0.44 ₸215

-6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 UZS 20.0K

$1.30 ₸638

29.23%

Eggs

$1.43 UZS 17.1K

$1.73 ₸845

-17.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 UZS 91.2K

$9.48 ₸4,644

-19.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 UZS 44.1K

$4.24 ₸2,079

-12.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 UZS 103.0K

$7.25 ₸3,555

19.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 UZS 15.7K

$1.32 ₸646

-0.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 UZS 21.0K

$1.45 ₸711

21.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 UZS 26.5K

$1.89 ₸929

17.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 UZS 17.3K

$1.98 ₸971

-26.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 UZS 5,679

$0.56 ₸273

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 UZS 3,749

$0.41 ₸200

-24.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 UZS 6,779

$0.99 ₸486

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 UZS 4,801

$0.76 ₸372

-47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.03 UZS 24.3K

$1.79 ₸878

13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 UZS 81.0K

$7.87 ₸3,857

-13.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 UZS 12.9K

$0.99 ₸487

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 UZS 36.5K

$1.65 ₸807

85.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 UZS 1,792

$0.22 ₸108

-31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.20 UZS 133.7K

$11.56 ₸5,666

-3.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 UZS 9,083

$1.78 ₸872

-57.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 UZS 3,741

$0.45 ₸222

-31.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 UZS 41.5K

$4.38 ₸2,148

-20.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 UZS 12.0K

$0.45 ₸219

122.22%

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

$19.7K UZS 234.5M

$19.0K ₸9.3M

3.40%

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

$25.3K UZS 301.5M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

0.67%

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

$44.94 UZS 536.1K

$53.9 ₸26.4K

-16.62%

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

$3.69 UZS 44.0K

$8.04 ₸3,941

-54.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.52 UZS 137.4K

$13.00 ₸6,372

-11.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.68 UZS 545.0K

$32.29 ₸15.8K

41.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.58 UZS 162.0K

$11.76 ₸5,764

15.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 UZS 63.6K

$4.47 ₸2,191

19.24%

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

$295 UZS 3.5M

$240 ₸117.4K

23.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,001 UZS 107.4M

$4,875 ₸2.4M

84.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.86 UZS 511.3K

$55.6 ₸27.2K

-22.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.43 UZS 577.7K

$35.64 ₸17.5K

35.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 UZS 1.2M

$86.6 ₸42.5K

19.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 UZS 1.5M

$83.9 ₸41.1K

52.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 UZS 7.5M

$333 ₸163.0K

88.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 UZS 4.9M

$210 ₸102.9K

94.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 UZS 14.1M

$569 ₸279.0K

107.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 UZS 8.8M

$400 ₸195.8K

84.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,626 UZS 19.4M

$977 ₸478.5K

66.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$934 UZS 11.1M

$653 ₸319.8K

43.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$660 UZS 7.9M

$523 ₸256.2K

26.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.07

16.12

36.91%

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

Last update for Tashkent: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $625 in Tashkent versus $333 in Karaganda. 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 $32.00 in Tashkent versus $30.00 in Karaganda. Groceries tell a different story – $162 in Tashkent vs $170 in Karaganda – 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

Tashkent vs Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $955 in Tashkent, $752 in Karaganda – roughly 27% apart. Tashkent costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,432 per month in Tashkent and $1,127 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $295 per month in Tashkent and $240 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

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.

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 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.