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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $928 per month in Tashkent vs $750 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,458 per month in Tashkent vs $1,184 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,988 per month in Tashkent vs $1,617 in Karaganda, rent included.

Tashkent costs about 24% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tashkent and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 31% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.76 UZS 57.3K

$8.45 ₸3,976

-43.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.02 UZS 373.0K

$29.19 ₸13.7K

6.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 UZS 55.6K

$4.97 ₸2,337

-7.04%

Cappuccino

$1.88 UZS 22.6K

$1.85 ₸872

1.62%

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

$0.63 UZS 7,555

$0.65 ₸305

-3.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 UZS 3,274

$0.46 ₸217

-41.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 UZS 17.0K

$1.01 ₸475

40.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 UZS 46.6K

$2.96 ₸1,393

31.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 UZS 13.5K

$1.02 ₸478

9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 UZS 5,039

$0.46 ₸217

-8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 UZS 20.3K

$1.24 ₸582

36.29%

Eggs

$1.45 UZS 17.4K

$1.72 ₸810

-15.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 UZS 91.3K

$9.63 ₸4,533

-21.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 UZS 46.3K

$4.26 ₸2,007

-9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.66 UZS 104.2K

$7.18 ₸3,381

20.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 UZS 16.3K

$1.30 ₸614

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 UZS 20.1K

$1.43 ₸673

16.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 UZS 25.5K

$1.97 ₸929

7.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 UZS 17.7K

$1.93 ₸907

-23.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 UZS 5,663

$0.59 ₸279

-20.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 UZS 4,143

$0.38 ₸177

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 UZS 6,762

$1.01 ₸476

-44.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 UZS 4,812

$0.75 ₸352

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 UZS 23.8K

$1.74 ₸818

13.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.54 UZS 78.7K

$8.02 ₸3,774

-18.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 UZS 13.4K

$1.00 ₸470

12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 UZS 37.3K

$1.69 ₸796

83.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 UZS 2,095

$0.19 ₸88.8

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.18 UZS 134.4K

$11.90 ₸5,601

-6.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 UZS 9,784

$1.72 ₸810

-52.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 UZS 3,448

$0.43 ₸201

-32.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 UZS 41.6K

$4.42 ₸2,082

-21.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 UZS 12.0K

$0.48 ₸227

108.33%

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

$20.2K UZS 243.2M

$19.2K ₸9.1M

5.12%

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

$25.0K UZS 300.2M

$25.4K ₸11.9M

-1.66%

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

$44.62 UZS 536.6K

$54.0 ₸25.4K

-17.32%

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

$3.64 UZS 43.8K

$8.42 ₸3,963

-56.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.78 UZS 141.7K

$13.22 ₸6,221

-10.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.90 UZS 564.0K

$31.87 ₸15.0K

47.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.37 UZS 160.8K

$11.87 ₸5,586

12.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 UZS 63.8K

$4.56 ₸2,146

16.45%

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

$292 UZS 3.5M

$242 ₸114.0K

20.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 UZS 106.9M

$4,868 ₸2.3M

82.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.29 UZS 532.7K

$55.5 ₸26.1K

-20.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 UZS 587.4K

$35.07 ₸16.5K

39.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 UZS 1.2M

$89.1 ₸41.9K

11.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 UZS 1.5M

$86.0 ₸40.5K

47.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 UZS 7.5M

$331 ₸155.9K

89.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 UZS 5.0M

$210 ₸98.7K

99.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 UZS 13.9M

$573 ₸269.6K

101.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 UZS 8.9M

$398 ₸187.5K

85.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,607 UZS 19.3M

$996 ₸469.0K

61.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$901 UZS 10.8M

$684 ₸321.9K

31.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 UZS 8.1M

$533 ₸251.0K

27.08%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Tashkent versus $331 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 27% 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 $31.00 in Tashkent versus $29.00 in Karaganda. Groceries tell a different story – $163 in Tashkent vs $171 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: $928 in Tashkent, $750 in Karaganda – roughly 24% apart. Tashkent costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,392 per month in Tashkent and $1,125 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 6% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $292 per month in Tashkent and $242 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 $750, than in Tashkent at $928. 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.