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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Tashkent vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Tashkent vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,204 per month in Tashkent vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Tashkent costs about 11% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tashkent and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 26% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.62 UZS 77.9K
$9.55 ₸4,352
-30.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.41 UZS 393.0K
$34.35 ₸15.6K
-2.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.06 UZS 59.5K
$5.28 ₸2,406
-4.17%
Cappuccino
$2.57 UZS 30.2K
$1.93 ₸881
33.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 UZS 8,230
$0.90 ₸410
-22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UZS 3,140
$0.59 ₸269
-54.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 UZS 18.3K
$1.33 ₸607
17.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 UZS 40.7K
$2.90 ₸1,321
19.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 UZS 14.8K
$1.24 ₸566
0.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 UZS 9,185
$0.44 ₸200
77.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UZS 19.9K
$1.24 ₸565
36.29%
Eggs
$1.89 UZS 22.3K
$1.75 ₸799
8.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 UZS 99.9K
$12.90 ₸5,876
-34.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 UZS 50.8K
$5.44 ₸2,477
-20.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 UZS 150.8K
$10.80 ₸4,922
18.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 UZS 17.7K
$1.50 ₸682
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 UZS 22.2K
$1.93 ₸880
-2.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 UZS 28.0K
$2.76 ₸1,257
-13.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 UZS 20.6K
$2.06 ₸938
-15.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 UZS 6,678
$0.65 ₸296
-12.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.38 UZS 4,507
$0.53 ₸242
-28.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 UZS 12.0K
$1.00 ₸458
2.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 UZS 5,392
$0.71 ₸325
-35.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 UZS 24.1K
$2.19 ₸998
-6.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 UZS 90.2K
$7.93 ₸3,613
-3.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 UZS 16.4K
$1.32 ₸600
6.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 UZS 42.4K
$2.06 ₸938
75.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 UZS 1,680
$0.21 ₸95.4
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.80 UZS 150.6K
$14.94 ₸6,805
-14.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 UZS 9,561
$1.22 ₸554
-33.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 UZS 3,920
$1.21 ₸553
-72.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 UZS 39.1K
$3.27 ₸1,488
1.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 UZS 13.5K
$0.54 ₸247
112.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K UZS 195.9M
$21.5K ₸9.8M
-22.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K UZS 293.1M
$31.0K ₸14.1M
-19.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 UZS 789.4K
$71.2 ₸32.4K
-5.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 UZS 50.0K
$9.80 ₸4,464
-56.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.79 UZS 162.2K
$11.80 ₸5,374
16.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.3 UZS 732.6K
$44.26 ₸20.2K
40.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22 UZS 214.4K
$18.14 ₸8,265
0.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.87 UZS 69.1K
$5.18 ₸2,361
13.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 UZS 3.8M
$129 ₸58.6K
150.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,791 UZS 115.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 UZS 616.1K
$58.8 ₸26.8K
-10.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3 UZS 709.2K
$58.0 ₸26.4K
3.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 UZS 1.3M
$75.2 ₸34.2K
45.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 UZS 1.6M
$85.9 ₸39.1K
58.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$598 UZS 7.0M
$392 ₸178.3K
52.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 UZS 4.5M
$269 ₸122.6K
41.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,205 UZS 14.2M
$709 ₸323.1K
69.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 UZS 8.6M
$533 ₸242.7K
36.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,679 UZS 19.8M
$1,027 ₸467.7K
63.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$965 UZS 11.4M
$706 ₸321.7K
36.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 UZS 9.1M
$565 ₸257.4K
36.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
19.25
21.09%

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

Last update for Tashkent: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $598 in Tashkent versus $392 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 37% 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 $33.00 in Tashkent versus $34.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $210 – making Tashkent 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
Tashkent vs Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tashkent and in Karaganda compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,019 in Tashkent, $921 in Karaganda – roughly 11% apart. Tashkent costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tashkent compared to Karaganda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,529 per month in Tashkent and $1,381 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tashkent and Karaganda?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Tashkent and in Karaganda?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tashkent and Karaganda?
Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Tashkent and $129 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Tashkent at $1,019. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tashkent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Tashkent or Karaganda?
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.
Is Tashkent or Karaganda safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tashkent and Karaganda?
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.

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