Cost of living in Uzbekistan, prices and what it is like to live for an Expat, quality of life / hardship, and compare cost of living for Expatriates as at October 2023.

What is it like to live in Uzbekistan?

Climate: The climate is mostly desert with long hot summers, mild winters, and semi arid grassland in the east.

Language: The official language is Uzbek. A knowledge of Russian is useful, though is unlikely to be spoken or understood in more remote rural areas. Russian remains the common language for inter-ethnic communication in Tashkent. Uzbek is increasingly being used in official and business circles, as well as for public notices such as road signs and street names. Use of Russian will not offend non-Russians, but Uzbeks will be pleased at any attempt to use their language. Few people speak English well, but a rapidly increasing number have a basic grasp of the language. Interpreters can be hired locally.

Religion: Islam.

Economy: The economy of Uzbekistan relies mainly on commodity production, including cotton, gold, uranium, potassium, and natural gas. Despite the declared objective of transition to a market economy, Uzbekistan continues to maintain rigid economic controls, which often repel foreign investors. Agriculture employs 28% of Uzbekistan's labour force and contributes 24% of its GDP.

Inflation: 8.96% for Uzbekistan as at August 2023.

Money: The currency of Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistan Som (UZS). Uzbekistan is largely a cash based economy. ATMs are limited. Credit cards are not widely accepted.

Tax: In Uzbekistan is based on the current personal income tax rate which is a flat rate of 12%.

Population: 33.4 Million (2022 est.)

Expat Life: Expatriate dress code is conservative for men and modest for women. The safety risk for expatriates in Uzbekistan is medium but high near the borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as well as in the Fergana Valley. Risks include petty and opportunist crime, fraud (credit cards and ATMs), safety checkpoints (carry passports, visa and travel documents), and the underlying threat of extremist attack.

Health Care: Health care facilities are generally poor. Serious or complex health care treatment may require evacuation which can be expensive.

Uzbekistan covers all areas within the country other than Tashkent.

Cost Of Living

What is the cost of living in Uzbekistan?

The cost of living for expatriates in Uzbekistan as at October 2023 is low in comparison to other places in the world, with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 44.68 (New York =100). We have collected prices for the same items, world wide, based on Expat spending norms, in or closest to the location, and converted them to $USD so that we can compare the cost of 13 different baskets in 780 global locations. For each basket, compared to New York, the equivalent cost in Uzbekistan is as follows:

1) Alcohol and/or Tobacco: Cost is high for items such as beer, spirits, wine and tobacco related products such as cigarettes. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$860. Average price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is USD$3.97, domestic/local beer (500ml) USD$1.30, imported/international beer (330ml) USD$3.12 and a pack of 20 cigarettes is USD$2.43.

2) Clothing: Cost is high for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$960. Average price for an international brand of mens jeans is USD$42, a quality international brand of running shoes USD$93, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear USD$94 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is USD$47.

3) Communication: Cost is very low for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff and data costs. A basket costing USD$200 in New York costs USD$56. Average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is USD$14, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD$5.25 per minute.

4) Education: Cost is low for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. A basket costing USD$30,000 in New York costs USD$16500. Average annual private international school fee (excluding extras) USD$10,665 for Primary School, and USD$11,869 for High School.

5) Furniture & Appliances: Cost is low for items such as dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofas. A basket costing USD$2,500 in New York costs USD$1575. Average price for a 6kg front loader Washing Machine is USD$623, and USD$535 for a 46+'' LED UHD TV.

6) Groceries: Cost is very low for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$410. Average grocery prices in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is USD$0.73, 1 kg oranges USD$1.25, 1 head lettuce USD$0.42, 1 kg potatos USD$0.29, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast USD$2.11, 1 kg cheddar cheese USD$3.55, 1 dozen large eggs USD$2.05, 500g loaf white bread USD$0.46, 1 L full cream milk USD$4.95, and 1.5 L water USD$0.40.

7) Healthcare: Cost is very low for general heath care, doctor visits, hospital stays, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$300. Average healthcare cost for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is USD$24, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is USD$735.

8) Household Accommodation: Cost is low for items such as apartment rent, house rent, property purchase, mortgage rate, and utilities. A basket costing USD$5,000 in New York costs USD$1350. Average expatriate house / apartment rent for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is USD$1,957 in a central location, and USD$1,125 in a suburban location, per month, excluding utilities.

9) Miscellaneous: Cost is very low for items such as dry cleaning, linen, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$190. Average price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is USD$3.72, while an international newspaper is USD$1.14.

10) Personal Care: Cost is average for items such as cosmetics, hair care, and toiletries. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$300. Average cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is USD$24, while a womens hair colour, cut and blow dry - medium length is USD$119.

11) Recreation & Culture: Cost is average for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$345. Average price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off peak where applicable) for one adult is USD$5.66, and an international fitness, recreation or sports club membership cost for one adult is USD$44 per month.

12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Cost is low for items such as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in a restaurant, and take away food and beverages. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$380. Average cappuccino price (regular, medium) is USD$2.03, coke/pepsi (330ml) USD$0.70, burger meal (international franchise or similar) USD$3.90, and a mid-range international restaurant meal for 2 USD$34.41.

13) Transport: Cost is low for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), car hire, public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$550. Average average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is USD$3.43, while the benchmark car sedan purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy vehicle (1.4 L) is USD$13,162.

How does the cost of living in Uzbekistan compare?

Uzbekistan is -48.4% cheaper than USA for groceries, -53.9% cheaper for household costs than UK, and 8.4% more expensive for transport costs than India.

What is the quality of life / hardship in Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.The hardship premium for Uzbekistan for an expat from Australia, is for example 20%, i.e. host location (Uzbekistan) premium of 30% minus home (Australia) location premium of 10%.

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