Cost of Living in Uzbekistan: Rent, Housing & Income

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, known for the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, the capital Tashkent, and a long continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The figures on this page describe the country as a whole, with Tashkent as the biggest influence on rents. The currency is the som, and the converted amounts change with the exchange rate.

The data comes from Livingcost, which compiles crowd-sourced price reports. Crowd-sourced data may be thinner for some markets, so treat these numbers as a rough guide and expect real quotes to vary.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Uzbekistan was 29.2 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 29% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 13,601 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 8.8% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Livingcost lists $360/mo for one person without rent and $681/mo with it. The average salary after tax is listed at $297/mo, which is below the cost of a central one bedroom flat. Local households deal with that through shared housing, family property and rural living, and visitors spending foreign income face a different set of prices.

A one bedroom apartment in a city centre is listed at $399/mo, and a cheaper one bedroom at $245/mo. A three bedroom in the centre is listed at $882/mo, against $454/mo for a cheaper one.

The three bedroom gap is wide, with the cheaper option about half the central price. That points to a market where location and building condition matter a lot, and where new developments in Tashkent are priced well above older Soviet era blocks. Rentals are often arranged directly with owners, through local agents or via messaging groups. Contracts can be informal, so ask for a written agreement and keep a record of payments.

Practical points

Some owners prefer to be paid in cash or in dollars, and quoted prices may be in either currency. Clarify which, and when the rate is fixed. Visit the apartment at different times to check heating in winter and cooling in summer.

Utilities for one person are listed at $44.60/mo, an internet plan at $12/mo, and a monthly local transport ticket at $10.80/mo.

The transport figure is low. Tashkent has a metro and an extensive bus network, and taxis and ride hailing apps are widely used. Heating bills can be a larger item in winter, particularly in older buildings with central systems that are not individually controlled.

A lunch menu is listed at $6.29 each. A liter of milk is listed at $1.12 each and a dozen eggs at $1.63 each. Bazaars are central to daily shopping, with seasonal fruit, bread, spices and meat sold at stalls. Plov and other local dishes at neighborhood restaurants cost less than meals at places aimed at visitors.

Mobile service and data are inexpensive and widely used for payments, taxis and food delivery in the larger cities. Cards are accepted in more places each year, but cash still matters at bazaars and small shops, so carry some local currency and check how best to exchange money.

For a family of four, Livingcost lists $1,717/mo including rent and $1,173/mo excluding it. Schooling, childcare and health care are not itemized. Many families rely on extended family networks, and housing arrangements differ from those in Western countries.

Measured against the listed salary, the cost of rent is significant. Measured against what a visitor with outside income spends, daily costs are low. As the country develops, prices in Tashkent have changed quickly, so check recent listings, not older reports.

Seasons affect both comfort and cost. Spring and autumn are popular with travelers, while midsummer heat can be intense and winters are cold. If you plan to live there through winter, ask owners about heating and insulation, since a cheap rent can come with high heating costs.

Decide whether your base will be Tashkent or a smaller city, then collect a few listings to replace the national averages. Add the bills, the transport line and a food allowance that fits how you plan to eat. Include a reserve for domestic travel between the historic cities, which rewards the effort but costs money for trains, flights or drivers.

• Health insurance and medical care
• Visa or registration requirements and fees
• Flights and travel between cities
• Heating costs in a cold winter
• Taxes, which depend on your status

Visa, registration and tax rules depend on nationality and change over time. Check the official Uzbek government immigration site and ask a licensed advisor.