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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $956 per month in Tashkent vs $539 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,463 per month in Tashkent vs $895 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,970 per month in Tashkent vs $1,251 in Samarkand, rent included.

Tashkent costs about 77% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tashkent and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 29% lower, Samarkand 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 UZS 57.4K
$4.72 UZS 57.1K
0.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.30 UZS 378.1K
$17.24 UZS 208.2K
81.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 UZS 57.9K
$4.22 UZS 51.0K
13.51%
Cappuccino
$1.95 UZS 23.5K
$1.80 UZS 21.8K
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 UZS 7,644
$0.43 UZS 5,144
46.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 UZS 2,998
$0.25 UZS 3,000
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 UZS 16.3K
$1.28 UZS 15.4K
5.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 UZS 46.8K
$2.00 UZS 24.2K
93.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 UZS 13.5K
$1.05 UZS 12.7K
6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 UZS 5,056
$0.38 UZS 4,575
10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UZS 21.1K
$1.58 UZS 19.1K
10.76%
Eggs
$1.50 UZS 18.1K
$1.26 UZS 15.2K
19.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 UZS 95.3K
$7.87 UZS 95.1K
0.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 UZS 45.6K
$3.73 UZS 45.0K
1.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.72 UZS 105.4K
$8.78 UZS 106.0K
-0.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 UZS 16.6K
$0.83 UZS 10.0K
65.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 UZS 20.3K
$1.74 UZS 21.0K
-3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 UZS 26.4K
$1.63 UZS 19.6K
34.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 UZS 18.2K
$1.50 UZS 18.2K
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 UZS 6,166
$0.48 UZS 5,817
6.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 UZS 4,168
$0.17 UZS 2,053
105.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 UZS 6,997
$0.25 UZS 3,035
132.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 UZS 4,876
$0.38 UZS 4,570
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 UZS 23.5K
$1.61 UZS 19.4K
20.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.54 UZS 79.0K
$3.22 UZS 38.9K
103.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 UZS 13.1K
$0.96 UZS 11.6K
13.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 UZS 36.8K
$2.02 UZS 24.4K
50.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 UZS 1,785
$0.25 UZS 3,034
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.91 UZS 131.7K
$3.08 UZS 37.3K
254.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.80 UZS 9,684
$0.38 UZS 4,586
110.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 UZS 3,794
$0.18 UZS 2,159
72.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 UZS 42.2K
$2.33 UZS 28.1K
50.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 UZS 12.6K
$0.94 UZS 11.4K
11.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K UZS 241.2M
$20.0K UZS 241.3M
-0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K UZS 307.7M
$24.8K UZS 299.2M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.73 UZS 540.2K
$38.84 UZS 469.1K
15.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.51 UZS 42.4K
$3.58 UZS 43.2K
-1.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.62 UZS 140.3K
$11.68 UZS 141.0K
-0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.47 UZS 549.2K
$36.27 UZS 438.1K
25.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21 UZS 159.5K
$6.40 UZS 77.3K
106.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.18 UZS 62.6K
$2.95 UZS 35.6K
75.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$295 UZS 3.6M
$118 UZS 1.4M
149.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,911 UZS 107.6M
$4,645 UZS 56.1M
91.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.32 UZS 535.3K
$19.54 UZS 236.1K
126.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.80 UZS 589.5K
$39.93 UZS 482.2K
22.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 UZS 1.2M
$71.2 UZS 860.0K
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UZS 1.5M
$56.1 UZS 677.4K
127.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 UZS 7.6M
$227 UZS 2.7M
175.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 UZS 5.0M
$129 UZS 1.6M
219.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 UZS 14.2M
$431 UZS 5.2M
173.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$736 UZS 8.9M
$298 UZS 3.6M
147.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,891 UZS 22.8M
$1,248 UZS 15.1M
51.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$985 UZS 11.9M
$546 UZS 6.6M
80.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$578 UZS 7.0M
$293 UZS 3.5M
96.77%
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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Tashkent versus $227 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 97% 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 in Tashkent versus $17 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 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 77%, 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 $1,433 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 $956 in Tashkent and $539 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 254% 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 $539, than in Tashkent at $956. 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.

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