Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Samarkand Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Samarkand

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,044 per month in Tashkent vs $632 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,646 per month in Tashkent vs $1,023 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,249 per month in Tashkent vs $1,413 in Samarkand, rent included.

Tashkent costs about 65% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tashkent and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 24% lower, Samarkand 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.93 UZS 81.5K
$6.91 UZS 81.2K
0.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.63 UZS 395.5K
$19.86 UZS 233.6K
69.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.22 UZS 61.4K
$4.78 UZS 56.2K
9.21%
Cappuccino
$2.56 UZS 30.1K
$2.47 UZS 29.1K
3.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 UZS 8,025
$0.69 UZS 8,116
-1.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 UZS 3,442
$0.19 UZS 2,217
52.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 UZS 39.7K
$2.23 UZS 26.2K
51.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UZS 14.8K
$1.08 UZS 12.8K
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 UZS 9,024
$0.33 UZS 3,834
133.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
$1.63 UZS 19.2K
2.45%
Eggs
$1.81 UZS 21.2K
$1.39 UZS 16.3K
30.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 UZS 96.6K
$8.28 UZS 97.4K
-0.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 UZS 51.2K
$4.38 UZS 51.5K
-0.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 UZS 147.8K
$10.63 UZS 125.0K
18.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
$0.81 UZS 9,513
85.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 UZS 21.3K
$1.83 UZS 21.5K
-1.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 UZS 28.1K
$1.75 UZS 20.6K
36.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
$1.73 UZS 20.3K
-3.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 UZS 6,485
$0.49 UZS 5,748
12.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.38 UZS 4,499
$0.17 UZS 2,013
123.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 UZS 12.2K
$0.24 UZS 2,814
333.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 UZS 5,038
$0.40 UZS 4,720
7.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 UZS 23.9K
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
21.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.82 UZS 91.9K
$3.32 UZS 39.0K
135.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 UZS 16.1K
$0.99 UZS 11.7K
38.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 UZS 42.8K
$2.14 UZS 25.1K
70.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 UZS 1,587
$0.26 UZS 3,066
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.62 UZS 148.4K
$3.32 UZS 39.1K
280.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 UZS 9,782
$0.37 UZS 4,311
124.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 UZS 3,991
$0.32 UZS 3,804
6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 UZS 38.9K
$3.40 UZS 39.9K
-2.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 UZS 13.5K
$1.10 UZS 12.9K
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K UZS 203.3M
$16.9K UZS 198.4M
2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K UZS 285.6M
$24.2K UZS 284.8M
0.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.6 UZS 782.8K
$43.06 UZS 506.4K
54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.41 UZS 51.9K
$3.86 UZS 45.4K
14.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.86 UZS 163.1K
$13.68 UZS 160.9K
1.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 UZS 722.5K
$39.94 UZS 469.7K
53.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 UZS 223.2K
$6.94 UZS 81.6K
173.49%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 UZS 68.9K
$3.22 UZS 37.8K
81.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$327 UZS 3.8M
$331 UZS 3.9M
-1.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,861 UZS 116.0M
$7,569 UZS 89.0M
30.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 UZS 618.3K
$20.85 UZS 245.2K
152.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0 UZS 717.5K
$43.23 UZS 508.4K
41.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 UZS 1.3M
$76.5 UZS 899.8K
42.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 UZS 1.6M
$59.5 UZS 699.3K
134.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 UZS 7.0M
$250 UZS 2.9M
138.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 UZS 4.5M
$166 UZS 2.0M
130.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 UZS 14.2M
$469 UZS 5.5M
157.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 UZS 8.5M
$319 UZS 3.8M
126.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,674 UZS 19.7M
$1,263 UZS 14.9M
32.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$936 UZS 11.0M
$558 UZS 6.6M
67.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$770 UZS 9.1M
$311 UZS 3.7M
147.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
23.31
-

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

Last update for Tashkent: September 7, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $596 in Tashkent versus $250 in Samarkand. 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 147% 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 $34.00 in Tashkent versus $20.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $159 – making Samarkand 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 Samarkand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samarkand cheaper than Tashkent?
Yes – Tashkent is pricier by about 65%, 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 $1,566 per month in Tashkent and $948 in Samarkand. 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Tashkent and in Samarkand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,044 in Tashkent and $632 in Samarkand. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 280% less in Samarkand. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tashkent or in Samarkand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Tashkent at $1,044. In Samarkand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tashkent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tashkent or Samarkand 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, Tashkent or Samarkand?
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, Tashkent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Tashkent vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities