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Uzbekistan on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Uzbekistan is excellent value, with guesthouses, plov and trains at low prices. A realistic minimum is about UZS 530,000 per person a day: UZS 200,000 for a bed, UZS 150,000 for food, UZS 80,000 for sights and UZS 100,000 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | UZS200,000 | UZS450,000 | UZS1,200,000 |
| Food & drink | UZS150,000 | UZS300,000 | UZS600,000 |
| Sights & tickets | UZS80,000 | UZS150,000 | UZS300,000 |
| Local transport | UZS100,000 | UZS200,000 | UZS500,000 |
| Per person, per day | UZS530,000 | UZS1,100,000 | UZS2,600,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Uzbekistan day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, under its green dome.
- The Lyabi-Hauz pool and its old mulberry trees in Bukhara.
- The square between the Kalyan Minaret and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa in Bukhara (the mosque interior is ticketed).
- Siab Bazaar next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand.
- The outer walls of Khiva's Itchan Kala at sunset.
- Amir Timur Square and the Independence Square parks in Tashkent.
Cheap eats
- Plov at a plov centre or teahouse: about UZS 50,000–70,000.
- Samsa from a tandoor bakery: UZS 6,000–12,000.
- Lagman noodle soup: about UZS 30,000–50,000.
- Shashlik skewers: about UZS 15,000–30,000 each.
- Non bread from the bazaar: about UZS 5,000–10,000.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in family guesthouses in the old towns of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, with courtyard rooms and breakfast at about UZS 250,000–500,000 a double; hostels in Tashkent and Samarkand are cheaper per bed.
Getting around cheaply
Take trains between cities: the Afrosiyob between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara is fast, while slower trains are cheaper. Regular trains reach Khiva (6–7 hours from Bukhara). In cities, the Tashkent metro is very cheap and Yandex Go taxis cost UZS 15,000–40,000.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Registan at opening (about UZS 75,000–100,000).
- Lunch: plov in a teahouse (about UZS 60,000).
- Afternoon: Siab Bazaar and the Bibi-Khanym exterior (free), then Shah-i-Zinda (about UZS 40,000–60,000).
- Evening: shashlik and salads (about UZS 80,000), plus Yandex Go rides (about UZS 40,000).
- Total: about UZS 530,000 including a UZS 200,000 guesthouse bed.
More ways to save
- Ride the Tashkent metro for its decorated stations at a very low fare.
- Take slower Sharq trains instead of the Afrosiyob when time allows.
- Choose guesthouses that help buy train tickets without large commissions.
- Shop for snacks and fruit in bazaars instead of tourist restaurants.
- Visit Khiva in one full day with the two-day ticket and walk instead of using tours.
- Travel in March, early April or late October for lower guesthouse rates.
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Common questions
Can you travel Uzbekistan on a budget?
Yes, easily: family guesthouses, plov and trains keep costs to about UZS 530,000 a day.
Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?
Citizens of the EU, UK, US and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 30 days or more; check current rules for your passport.
How do I get around cities cheaply?
Use the Tashkent metro and Yandex Go taxis, which cost UZS 15,000–40,000 for most rides.