Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Lhasa

For one person, living is cheaper in Lhasa: $733 a month against $1,048 in Tashkent, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tashkent
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$1,048
/mo nomad
Lhasa
🇨🇳 China
$733
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tashkent and in Lhasa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tashkent and in Lhasa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Tashkent versus $733 in Lhasa.

  • Tashkent $1,048
  • Lhasa $733

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,646 in Tashkent versus $1,192 in Lhasa.

  • Tashkent $1,646
  • Lhasa $1,192

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,244 in Tashkent versus $1,651 in Lhasa.

  • Tashkent $2,244
  • Lhasa $1,651

Living in Tashkent is roughly 43% more expensive than in Lhasa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tashkent 23% lower, Lhasa 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73 UZS 81.1K
$4.53 ¥30.26
48.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.94 UZS 397.0K
$30.37 ¥203
8.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 UZS 61.9K
$7.52 ¥50.3
-31.78%
Cappuccino
$2.55 UZS 30.7K
$2.79 ¥18.69
-8.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 UZS 8,488
$0.43 ¥2.90
62.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 UZS 3,955
$0.30 ¥2.04
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 UZS 25.2K
$1.48 ¥9.89
41.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 UZS 45.4K
$2.06 ¥13.80
83.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 UZS 15.7K
$1.78 ¥11.93
-26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 UZS 10.2K
$1.65 ¥11.00
-48.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 UZS 19.7K
$0.96 ¥6.39
69.79%
Eggs
$1.80 UZS 21.6K
$1.68 ¥11.26
7.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 UZS 96.9K
$7.16 ¥47.89
12.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 UZS 49.1K
$2.92 ¥19.52
39.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.49 UZS 150.6K
$10.97 ¥73.3
13.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 UZS 18.0K
$1.88 ¥12.57
-20.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 UZS 21.8K
$1.29 ¥8.61
40.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 UZS 26.4K
$1.55 ¥10.37
41.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 UZS 20.5K
$1.27 ¥8.52
33.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 UZS 7,171
$0.70 ¥4.70
-14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 UZS 4,488
$0.94 ¥6.26
-60.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 UZS 12.3K
$0.58 ¥3.89
75.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 UZS 5,351
$0.55 ¥3.70
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 UZS 23.5K
$3.77 ¥25.18
-48.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 UZS 88.4K
$11.77 ¥78.7
-37.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 UZS 15.9K
$0.89 ¥5.95
48.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 UZS 42.7K
$1.56 ¥10.42
127.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 UZS 1,786
$0.29 ¥1.92
-48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.30 UZS 148.2K
$17.84 ¥119
-31.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 UZS 10.4K
$1.45 ¥9.72
-40.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 UZS 4,382
$0.33 ¥2.20
9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 UZS 38.4K
$7.00 ¥46.79
-54.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 UZS 13.6K
$1.25 ¥8.36
-9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K UZS 208.5M
$19.5K ¥130.2K
-11.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K UZS 249.8M
$17.2K ¥114.7K
20.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.2 UZS 809.7K
$57.0 ¥381
17.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40 UZS 53.0K
$8.51 ¥56.9
-48.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.35 UZS 160.9K
$11.05 ¥73.9
20.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 UZS 813.2K
$42.14 ¥282
60.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.05 UZS 217.5K
$14.97 ¥100
20.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66 UZS 68.2K
$6.48 ¥43.33
-12.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$333 UZS 4.0M
$413 ¥2,762
-19.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,238 UZS 111.3M
$17.6K ¥117.9K
-47.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.73 UZS 599.3K
$44.14 ¥295
12.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 UZS 698.6K
$33.10 ¥221
75.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 UZS 1.3M
$73.9 ¥494
51.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 UZS 1.6M
$75.9 ¥507
76.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 UZS 7.2M
$294 ¥1,965
102.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 UZS 4.8M
$183 ¥1,223
115.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,188 UZS 14.3M
$624 ¥4,174
90.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 UZS 8.9M
$375 ¥2,508
96.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 UZS 19.5M
$3,432 ¥22.9K
-52.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$944 UZS 11.4M
$1,929 ¥12.9K
-51.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Lhasa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$716 UZS 8.6M
$2,127 ¥14.2K
-66.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
3.36
593.75%

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

Last update for Tashkent: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lhasa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
$395
Lhasa
$183 53.7% $212
Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
$193
Lhasa
$188 2.9% $5.5
Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
$159
Lhasa
$102 35.8% $57
Eating Out
Tashkent
$122
Lhasa
$107 12.5% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
$85
Lhasa
$77 9.8% $8.3
Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
$79
Lhasa
$55 30.1% $24
Getting Around
Tashkent
$16
Lhasa
$22 41.8% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $595 in Tashkent and $294 in Lhasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lhasa pays 197% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Tashkent vs $30.00 in Lhasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $188 per month, with Lhasa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇿 Tashkent
🇨🇳 Lhasa
🕒 Local time
00:10 12:10 AM
03:10 3:10 AM
3 h ahead of Tashkent
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,956,384 Capital
867,891
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to UZS – Uzbekistani Som Converter

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 12,051 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.3 USD). 1 EUR = 13,548 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.38 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tashkent Lhasa 2,350 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tashkent
  • Lhasa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lhasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tashkent and in Lhasa?
Tashkent and Lhasa differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,048 vs $733 including rent). Lhasa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 197% lower in Lhasa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tashkent and in Lhasa?
Rent for a central apartment: $595 in Tashkent versus $294 in Lhasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Tashkent. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lhasa – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $33.00 in Tashkent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $733 in Lhasa versus $1,048 in Tashkent, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lhasa but tight or insufficient in Tashkent. The gap between the two cities makes Lhasa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tashkent and Lhasa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tashkent or Lhasa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tashkent and Lhasa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tashkent or Lhasa?
Expats usually find Lhasa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Tashkent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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