😐A single person spends $953 per month in Tashkent vs $552 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Tashkent vs $900 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,980 per month in Tashkent vs $1,247 in Samarkand, rent included.
😐Tashkent costs about 73% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tashkent and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent29% lower, Samarkand59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76UZS 57.0K
$4.71UZS 56.5K
1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.17UZS 385.3K
$17.70UZS 211.9K
81.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71UZS 56.4K
$4.45UZS 53.3K
5.84%
Cappuccino
$1.92UZS 23.0K
$1.75UZS 21.0K
9.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64UZS 7,654
$0.42UZS 5,036
52.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 2,961
$0.25UZS 2,990
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37UZS 16.4K
$1.24UZS 14.8K
10.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99UZS 47.7K
$1.93UZS 23.1K
106.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08UZS 12.9K
$1.01UZS 12.1K
6.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.39UZS 4,625
$0.40UZS 4,847
-2.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68UZS 20.1K
$1.57UZS 18.9K
7.01%
Eggs
$1.49UZS 17.8K
$1.25UZS 15.0K
19.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.60UZS 91.0K
$7.80UZS 93.4K
-2.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72UZS 44.5K
$3.71UZS 44.4K
0.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.75UZS 104.8K
$8.34UZS 99.9K
4.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32UZS 15.8K
$0.81UZS 9,746
62.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75UZS 20.9K
$1.74UZS 20.9K
0.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14UZS 25.6K
$1.54UZS 18.5K
38.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52UZS 18.2K
$1.47UZS 17.5K
3.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51UZS 6,151
$0.46UZS 5,486
10.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34UZS 4,125
$0.18UZS 2,108
88.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57UZS 6,880
$0.23UZS 2,735
147.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44UZS 5,240
$0.41UZS 4,897
7.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00UZS 24.0K
$1.57UZS 18.8K
27.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.57UZS 78.7K
$3.36UZS 40.2K
95.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08UZS 12.9K
$0.99UZS 11.8K
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11UZS 37.2K
$1.99UZS 23.9K
56.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18UZS 2,118
$0.23UZS 2,739
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.04UZS 132.1K
$3.13UZS 37.5K
252.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80UZS 9,612
$0.38UZS 4,534
110.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29UZS 3,435
$0.17UZS 2,024
70.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.64UZS 43.5K
$2.40UZS 28.8K
51.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04UZS 12.4K
$0.97UZS 11.7K
7.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KUZS 240.8M
$20.1KUZS 241.2M
-0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KUZS 302.7M
$24.9KUZS 297.9M
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.05UZS 527.5K
$39.92UZS 478.0K
10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58UZS 42.9K
$3.50UZS 41.9K
2.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.82UZS 141.6K
$11.96UZS 143.2K
-1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.19UZS 565.1K
$36.43UZS 436.2K
29.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.31UZS 159.3K
$6.40UZS 76.6K
107.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06UZS 60.6K
$2.87UZS 34.4K
76.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290UZS 3.5M
$119UZS 1.4M
144.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,895UZS 106.5M
$4,691UZS 56.2M
89.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.85UZS 513.1K
$19.78UZS 236.9K
116.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.25UZS 589.8K
$39.17UZS 469.0K
25.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.3UZS 1.2M
$70.6UZS 845.9K
40.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126UZS 1.5M
$54.5UZS 652.5K
130.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$635UZS 7.6M
$230UZS 2.8M
175.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406UZS 4.9M
$130UZS 1.6M
212.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,174UZS 14.1M
$433UZS 5.2M
171.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721UZS 8.6M
$300UZS 3.6M
140.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,646UZS 19.7M
$1,231UZS 14.7M
33.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$903UZS 10.8M
$532UZS 6.4M
69.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$686UZS 8.2M
$299UZS 3.6M
129.21%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $635 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 129% 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: $163 vs $144 – 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 73%, 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 $1,430 per month in Tashkent and $828 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 $953 in Tashkent and $552 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 253% 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 $552, than in Tashkent at $953. 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.