😐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 – Tashkent29% lower, Samarkand60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75UZS 57.4K
$4.72UZS 57.1K
0.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.30UZS 378.1K
$17.24UZS 208.2K
81.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.79UZS 57.9K
$4.22UZS 51.0K
13.51%
Cappuccino
$1.95UZS 23.5K
$1.80UZS 21.8K
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63UZS 7,644
$0.43UZS 5,144
46.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 2,998
$0.25UZS 3,000
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35UZS 16.3K
$1.28UZS 15.4K
5.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87UZS 46.8K
$2.00UZS 24.2K
93.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12UZS 13.5K
$1.05UZS 12.7K
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42UZS 5,056
$0.38UZS 4,575
10.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75UZS 21.1K
$1.58UZS 19.1K
10.76%
Eggs
$1.50UZS 18.1K
$1.26UZS 15.2K
19.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89UZS 95.3K
$7.87UZS 95.1K
0.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77UZS 45.6K
$3.73UZS 45.0K
1.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.72UZS 105.4K
$8.78UZS 106.0K
-0.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37UZS 16.6K
$0.83UZS 10.0K
65.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68UZS 20.3K
$1.74UZS 21.0K
-3.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19UZS 26.4K
$1.63UZS 19.6K
34.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50UZS 18.2K
$1.50UZS 18.2K
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.51UZS 6,166
$0.48UZS 5,817
6.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35UZS 4,168
$0.17UZS 2,053
105.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58UZS 6,997
$0.25UZS 3,035
132.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,876
$0.38UZS 4,570
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94UZS 23.5K
$1.61UZS 19.4K
20.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.54UZS 79.0K
$3.22UZS 38.9K
103.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09UZS 13.1K
$0.96UZS 11.6K
13.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05UZS 36.8K
$2.02UZS 24.4K
50.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15UZS 1,785
$0.25UZS 3,034
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.91UZS 131.7K
$3.08UZS 37.3K
254.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80UZS 9,684
$0.38UZS 4,586
110.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31UZS 3,794
$0.18UZS 2,159
72.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.50UZS 42.2K
$2.33UZS 28.1K
50.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05UZS 12.6K
$0.94UZS 11.4K
11.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KUZS 241.2M
$20.0KUZS 241.3M
-0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KUZS 307.7M
$24.8KUZS 299.2M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.73UZS 540.2K
$38.84UZS 469.1K
15.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.51UZS 42.4K
$3.58UZS 43.2K
-1.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.62UZS 140.3K
$11.68UZS 141.0K
-0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.47UZS 549.2K
$36.27UZS 438.1K
25.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21UZS 159.5K
$6.40UZS 77.3K
106.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.18UZS 62.6K
$2.95UZS 35.6K
75.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$295UZS 3.6M
$118UZS 1.4M
149.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,911UZS 107.6M
$4,645UZS 56.1M
91.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.32UZS 535.3K
$19.54UZS 236.1K
126.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.80UZS 589.5K
$39.93UZS 482.2K
22.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.3UZS 1.2M
$71.2UZS 860.0K
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128UZS 1.5M
$56.1UZS 677.4K
127.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626UZS 7.6M
$227UZS 2.7M
175.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410UZS 5.0M
$129UZS 1.6M
219.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,176UZS 14.2M
$431UZS 5.2M
173.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$736UZS 8.9M
$298UZS 3.6M
147.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,891UZS 22.8M
$1,248UZS 15.1M
51.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$985UZS 11.9M
$546UZS 6.6M
80.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$578UZS 7.0M
$293UZS 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.