😐A single person spends $928 per month in Tashkent vs $540 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Tashkent vs $884 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Tashkent vs $1,228 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐Tashkent costs about 72% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tashkent and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent31% lower, Samarkand60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.87UZS 58.7K
$4.52UZS 54.5K
7.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.78UZS 383.0K
$17.65UZS 212.6K
80.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59UZS 55.3K
$4.30UZS 51.8K
6.74%
Cappuccino
$1.85UZS 22.3K
$1.75UZS 21.1K
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60UZS 7,213
$0.42UZS 5,078
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27UZS 3,259
$0.25UZS 3,001
8.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.34UZS 16.2K
$1.30UZS 15.6K
3.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87UZS 46.7K
$2.01UZS 24.2K
92.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06UZS 12.8K
$1.01UZS 12.1K
4.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.38UZS 4,621
$0.41UZS 4,926
-7.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71UZS 20.6K
$1.58UZS 19.0K
8.23%
Eggs
$1.43UZS 17.2K
$1.32UZS 15.9K
8.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.56UZS 91.0K
$7.65UZS 92.2K
-1.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88UZS 46.8K
$3.71UZS 44.7K
4.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.53UZS 102.8K
$8.75UZS 105.4K
-2.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37UZS 16.6K
$0.76UZS 9,206
80.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68UZS 20.2K
$1.69UZS 20.4K
-0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12UZS 25.5K
$1.62UZS 19.5K
30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51UZS 18.2K
$1.52UZS 18.4K
-0.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47UZS 5,674
$0.48UZS 5,794
-2.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32UZS 3,852
$0.16UZS 1,932
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56UZS 6,787
$0.25UZS 3,029
124.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44UZS 5,261
$0.40UZS 4,837
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03UZS 24.5K
$1.59UZS 19.2K
27.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.60UZS 79.5K
$3.37UZS 40.6K
95.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07UZS 12.9K
$0.97UZS 11.7K
10.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07UZS 37.0K
$1.99UZS 24.0K
54.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18UZS 2,205
$0.25UZS 3,016
-28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.89UZS 131.3K
$3.18UZS 38.3K
242.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78UZS 9,346
$0.38UZS 4,539
105.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31UZS 3,760
$0.19UZS 2,317
63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.61UZS 43.5K
$2.34UZS 28.1K
54.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00UZS 12.1K
$0.95UZS 11.5K
5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KUZS 242.8M
$20.1KUZS 241.9M
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KUZS 304.6M
$25.2KUZS 304.1M
0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.01UZS 530.3K
$38.86UZS 468.2K
13.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.53UZS 42.6K
$3.67UZS 44.3K
-3.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.84UZS 142.6K
$11.65UZS 140.4K
1.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.10UZS 555.4K
$36.09UZS 434.9K
27.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.23UZS 159.4K
$6.13UZS 73.9K
115.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.21UZS 62.8K
$2.88UZS 34.7K
80.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294UZS 3.5M
$117UZS 1.4M
151.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,119UZS 109.9M
$4,734UZS 57.0M
92.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.45UZS 535.6K
$19.72UZS 237.6K
125.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05UZS 591.0K
$39.41UZS 474.8K
24.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101UZS 1.2M
$71.3UZS 858.7K
41.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127UZS 1.5M
$54.6UZS 658.2K
133.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623UZS 7.5M
$230UZS 2.8M
170.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407UZS 4.9M
$129UZS 1.6M
216.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180UZS 14.2M
$440UZS 5.3M
168.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713UZS 8.6M
$296UZS 3.6M
140.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,623UZS 19.6M
$1,229UZS 14.8M
32.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$903UZS 10.9M
$533UZS 6.4M
69.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636UZS 7.7M
$306UZS 3.7M
107.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.07
22.07
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tashkent: June 9, 2026
Last update for Samarkand: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $623 in Tashkent versus $230 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 108% 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 $18.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $145 – 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 72%, 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 $1,392 per month in Tashkent and $809 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 vs Samarkand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $928 in Tashkent and $540 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 242% less in Samarkand. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tashkent or Samarkand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $540, than in Tashkent at $928. 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.