For one person, living is cheaper in China: $789 a month against $909 in Uzbekistan, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uzbekistan and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $909 in Uzbekistan versus $789 in China.
Uzbekistan $909
China $789
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,407 in Uzbekistan versus $1,254 in China.
Uzbekistan $1,407
China $1,254
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,906 in Uzbekistan versus $1,720 in China.
Uzbekistan $1,906
China $1,720
📏
Uzbekistan ($123–$1,066) and China ($468–$1,246) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Uzbekistan is roughly 15% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Uzbekistan 33% lower, China 42% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.45UZS 77.2K
$3.04¥20.25
112.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.63UZS 330.9K
$22.12¥147
24.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.74UZS 56.7K
$5.37¥35.75
-11.73%
Cappuccino
$2.13UZS 25.5K
$2.93¥19.53
-27.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70UZS 8,421
$0.48¥3.21
45.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29UZS 3,475
$0.30¥2.01
-3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65UZS 19.7K
$1.07¥7.15
54.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33UZS 39.8K
$2.21¥14.69
50.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24UZS 14.8K
$1.80¥12.01
-31.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63UZS 7,518
$1.62¥10.76
-61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57UZS 18.9K
$0.99¥6.58
58.59%
Eggs
$1.66UZS 19.9K
$1.62¥10.80
2.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62UZS 91.3K
$13.44¥89.5
-43.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06UZS 48.6K
$3.46¥23.04
17.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.31UZS 135.4K
$11.15¥74.2
1.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33UZS 16.0K
$1.89¥12.60
-29.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78UZS 21.3K
$1.31¥8.72
35.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29UZS 27.4K
$1.50¥9.97
52.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66UZS 19.9K
$1.34¥8.90
23.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56UZS 6,685
$0.72¥4.77
-22.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40UZS 4,743
$0.93¥6.21
-56.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83UZS 9,970
$0.65¥4.35
27.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44UZS 5,299
$0.60¥3.98
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12UZS 25.4K
$3.82¥25.43
-44.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.83UZS 69.8K
$12.18¥81.1
-52.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31UZS 15.6K
$0.91¥6.04
43.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08UZS 36.9K
$1.65¥10.96
86.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22UZS 2,636
$0.29¥1.92
-24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.14UZS 157.3K
$18.07¥120
-27.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40UZS 4,785
$1.53¥10.22
-73.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35UZS 4,134
$0.37¥2.46
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.31UZS 51.6K
$6.69¥44.58
-35.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17UZS 14.0K
$1.28¥8.50
-8.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5KUZS 209.9M
$19.7K¥131.5K
-11.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KUZS 262.0M
$17.5K¥116.3K
25.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.8UZS 763.5K
$55.3¥368
15.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40UZS 52.7K
$8.32¥55.4
-47.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.73UZS 152.4K
$11.12¥74.1
14.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7UZS 654.9K
$39.65¥264
37.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.09UZS 168.7K
$15.17¥101
-7.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87UZS 58.3K
$6.65¥44.27
-26.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$390UZS 4.7M
$514¥3,425
-24.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KUZS 188.1M
$34.9K¥232.5K
-54.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.16UZS 421.0K
$45.85¥305
-23.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.86UZS 561.1K
$35.41¥236
32.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109UZS 1.3M
$76.0¥506
44.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108UZS 1.3M
$80.0¥533
34.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$465UZS 5.6M
$380¥2,528
22.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324UZS 3.9M
$232¥1,543
39.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$949UZS 11.4M
$836¥5,565
13.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$568UZS 6.8M
$462¥3,075
23.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,558UZS 18.7M
$4,743¥31.6K
-67.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$920UZS 11.0M
$2,383¥15.9K
-61.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uzbekistan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$586UZS 7.0M
$1,117¥7,437
-47.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.29
3.45
575.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uzbekistan: October 31, 2026
Last update for China: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Uzbekistan
$324 35.6%
China
$232 29.4% ↓ 28.4%$92
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uzbekistan
$179 19.7%
China
$212 26.8% ↑ 18.3%$33
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uzbekistan
$135 14.8%
China
$107 13.5% ↓ 20.7%$28
🍽Eating Out
Uzbekistan
$110 12.1%
China
$89 11.2% ↓ 19.6%$22
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uzbekistan
$81 8.9%
China
$75 9.5% ↓ 7.6%$6.1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uzbekistan
$64 7.1%
China
$53 6.7% ↓ 17.8%$11
🚌Getting Around
Uzbekistan
$16 1.8%
China
$23 2.9% ↑ 40.1%$6.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
Uzbekistan
$568 29.8%
China
$462 26.9% ↓ 18.7%$106
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uzbekistan
$417 21.9%
China
$486 28.3% ↑ 16.7%$69
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uzbekistan
$299 15.7%
China
$237 13.8% ↓ 20.7%$62
🍽Eating Out
Uzbekistan
$361 19%
China
$285 16.6% ↓ 21.2%$77
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uzbekistan
$85 4.5%
China
$83 4.8% ↓ 2.6%$2.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uzbekistan
$143 7.5%
China
$121 7% ↓ 15.3%$22
🚌Getting Around
Uzbekistan
$33 1.7%
China
$46 2.7% ↑ 39.9%$13
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $281 in Uzbekistan, $298 in China. Capital cities: $595 in Tashkent vs $942 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $410 in Uzbekistan, $881 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 6% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 18% more in Uzbekistan.
⭐Public transport is 64% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are about 2.1 times higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
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
Uzbekistan vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Uzbekistan?
At $789 per month in China and $909 in Uzbekistan, China comes out about 13% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, China is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
How do I choose between living in China and in Uzbekistan?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
Uzbekistan vs other spots: cost of living compared