Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tashkent and Shantou

For one person, living is cheaper in Shantou: $692 a month against $1,038 in Tashkent, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tashkent
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$1,038
/mo nomad
Shantou
🇨🇳 China
$692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tashkent and in Shantou

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tashkent and in Shantou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,038 per month in Tashkent vs $692 in Shantou, rent included.

  • Tashkent $1,038
  • Shantou $692

A couple spends around $1,636 per month in Tashkent vs $1,104 in Shantou, rent included.

  • Tashkent $1,636
  • Shantou $1,104

A family of three spends $2,234 per month in Tashkent vs $1,516 in Shantou, rent included.

  • Tashkent $2,234
  • Shantou $1,516

Tashkent costs about 50% more than Shantou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Tashkent and Shantou are more affordable than the global median – Tashkent 23% lower, Shantou 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.54 UZS 78.0K
$2.29 ¥15.35
185.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.23 UZS 408.4K
$23.70 ¥158
44.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 UZS 61.1K
$5.17 ¥34.59
-0.97%
Cappuccino
$2.62 UZS 31.3K
$3.38 ¥22.63
-22.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 UZS 8,507
$0.47 ¥3.12
51.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 UZS 3,881
$0.31 ¥2.05
6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 UZS 25.8K
$0.88 ¥5.92
145.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 UZS 45.3K
$2.13 ¥14.28
77.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UZS 15.0K
$1.60 ¥10.71
-21.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 UZS 10.2K
$1.45 ¥9.73
-40.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 UZS 19.6K
$0.77 ¥5.18
112.99%
Eggs
$1.78 UZS 21.2K
$1.69 ¥11.33
5.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 UZS 94.6K
$13.63 ¥91.1
-41.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 UZS 50.0K
$3.43 ¥22.91
22.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 UZS 150.3K
$13.16 ¥88.0
-4.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.53 UZS 18.3K
$1.95 ¥13.03
-21.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 UZS 21.4K
$1.50 ¥10.05
20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 UZS 27.7K
$1.81 ¥12.14
28.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 UZS 20.5K
$1.30 ¥8.70
31.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 UZS 6,616
$0.82 ¥5.49
-32.93%
Onion (1kg)
$0.38 UZS 4,481
$1.06 ¥7.11
-64.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 UZS 12.3K
$0.59 ¥3.96
74.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 UZS 5,741
$0.43 ¥2.88
11.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07 UZS 24.7K
$3.69 ¥24.71
-43.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 UZS 91.3K
$12.00 ¥80.2
-36.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 UZS 16.3K
$0.83 ¥5.57
63.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 UZS 43.4K
$1.79 ¥11.98
103.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 UZS 1,918
$0.36 ¥2.41
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.52 UZS 149.3K
$24.27 ¥162
-48.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 UZS 9,692
$1.53 ¥10.24
-47.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 UZS 4,332
$0.38 ¥2.56
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 UZS 39.4K
$7.31 ¥48.86
-54.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 UZS 13.7K
$1.23 ¥8.25
-6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.6K UZS 198.4M
$19.8K ¥132.4K
-15.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K UZS 286.2M
$18.0K ¥120.5K
33.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.1 UZS 812.8K
$56.7 ¥379
20.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.49 UZS 53.5K
$8.89 ¥59.5
-49.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.64 UZS 162.7K
$13.86 ¥92.7
-1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 UZS 746.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.78 UZS 224.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.98 UZS 71.4K
$7.54 ¥50.5
-20.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 UZS 3.9M
$540 ¥3,614
-39.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,455 UZS 112.8M
$24.2K ¥162.1K
-60.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.10 UZS 585.8K
$55.6 ¥372
-11.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 UZS 701.3K
$39.70 ¥265
48.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 UZS 1.3M
$73.1 ¥489
54.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 UZS 1.7M
$91.4 ¥611
52.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$600 UZS 7.2M
$298 ¥1,991
101.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 UZS 4.6M
$151 ¥1,011
152.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 UZS 14.4M
$602 ¥4,027
100.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 UZS 8.5M
$294 ¥1,969
142.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,585 UZS 18.9M
$2,278 ¥15.2K
-30.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$945 UZS 11.3M
$4,469 ¥29.9K
-78.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tashkent
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$711 UZS 8.5M
$1,062 ¥7,099
-33.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
3.35
595.82%

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

Last update for Tashkent: October 12, 2026

Last update for Shantou: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tashkent
$382
Shantou
$151 60.5% $231
Groceries & Markets
Tashkent
$195
Shantou
$214 9.7% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Tashkent
$162
Shantou
$117 27.9% $45
Eating Out
Tashkent
$122
Shantou
$86 29.1% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tashkent
$86
Shantou
$79 7.9% $6.8
Sport & Entertainment
Tashkent
$75
Shantou
$15 * 79.8% $59
Getting Around
Tashkent
$16
Shantou
$29 84.7% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $600 in Tashkent versus $298 in Shantou. 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 49% higher in Shantou, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Tashkent versus $24.00 in Shantou. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Tashkent vs $214 in Shantou – so Tashkent wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇿 Tashkent
🇨🇳 Shantou
🕒 Local time
15:19 3:19 PM
18:19 6:19 PM
3 h ahead of Tashkent
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,956,384 Capital
5,389,328
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to UZS – Uzbekistani Som Converter

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 11,930 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.38 USD). 1 EUR = 13,359 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.49 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tashkent Shantou 4,810 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tashkent
  • Shantou

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Shantou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tashkent and in Shantou compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,038 in Tashkent, $692 in Shantou – roughly 50% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.
What salary covers living expenses in Tashkent compared to Shantou?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,557 per month in Tashkent and $1,038 in Shantou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tashkent and Shantou?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shantou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Tashkent – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Tashkent and $24.00 in Shantou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shantou, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Tashkent at $1,038. In Shantou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tashkent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Tashkent or Shantou?
Families tend to lean toward Shantou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Tashkent or Shantou safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tashkent and Shantou?
If budget matters most, go with Shantou. 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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