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Is Uzbekistan expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Uzbekistan is cheap by European standards, with low prices for guesthouses, food, taxis and trains, and only the boutique hotels and private drivers costing Western prices. A budget traveller needs about UZS 530,000 a day, mid-range about UZS 1,100,000 and comfort about UZS 2,600,000 per person (about UZS 12,500 to US$1). Entry tickets to the big monuments and fast trains take a good share of a budget trip.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Green tea in a teahouse (choyxona) | UZS 5,000–10,000 a pot |
| Plov at the Central Asian Plov Centre, Tashkent | about UZS 50,000–70,000 |
| Samsa from a bakery | UZS 6,000–12,000 |
| Yandex Go taxi ride in a city | UZS 15,000–40,000 |
| Registan ticket, Samarkand | about UZS 75,000–100,000 |
| Itchan Kala two-day ticket, Khiva | about UZS 150,000–200,000 |
| Afrosiyob fast train Tashkent–Samarkand | roughly UZS 200,000–350,000 |
| Mid-range boutique hotel by Lyabi-Hauz, Bukhara | UZS 600,000–1,200,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the largest cost, with family guesthouses at UZS 250,000–500,000 a double and boutique hotels in old merchant houses at UZS 600,000–1,200,000. Monument tickets (Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, the Ark, Itchan Kala) add up over a week, and the fast Afrosiyob trains cost more than slow ones but save a lot of time. Food is very cheap at teahouses and bazaars; restaurants with folk shows or terraces by the monuments charge more.
When it is cheaper
Rates are lowest in winter (December–February), when sites are empty but cold, and in the summer heat of July and August. April–May and September–October are the busiest and dearest months.
How to spend less
- Stay in family guesthouses with breakfast included; they are often the best value.
- Use Yandex Go for taxis, which shows the price upfront.
- Eat plov at lunchtime, when it is freshly cooked and cheapest, in teahouses and plov centres.
- Book Afrosiyob tickets early on the Uzbekistan Railways site or app, as they sell out.
- Carry cash in so'm; cards are increasingly accepted but not everywhere, and ATMs can run out.
- Buy combined tickets where available, such as Khiva's Itchan Kala ticket covering most museums for two days.
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Common questions
Is Uzbekistan expensive?
No. Expect about UZS 530,000 a day on a budget and UZS 1,100,000 mid-range (about UZS 12,500 to US$1).
How much is the train from Tashkent to Samarkand?
The Afrosiyob fast train takes about 2h10 and costs roughly UZS 200,000–350,000; slower trains are cheaper.
Can I use cards in Uzbekistan?
Increasingly, in hotels and larger shops, but carry cash in so'm for bazaars, teahouses and small guesthouses.