🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
Living in Tashkent in 2026: cost of living, rent, areas
Tashkent blends the Soviet modernism of wide boulevards with the warm Eastern hospitality of its old quarters, where the domes of medieval madrasahs still rise above stacks of fresh flatbread and spices. It's Central Asia's biggest and most dynamic city, made for long walks.
Chorsu Bazaar
A huge covered market beneath a turquoise dome, the heart of the old city with mountains of spices, dried fruit, and fresh non bread.
Independence Square (Mustaqillik)
The country's main square, with monumental arches, fountains, and a Memory Alley honouring World War II heroes.
State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
The country's largest collection of artifacts, from Buddhist sculptures found at Termez to Soviet-era exhibits.
Amir Timur Museum
An elegant turquoise-domed building dedicated to the great conqueror and patron of the arts, Tamerlane.
Khast Imam Complex
Tashkent's spiritual centre, home to a 16th-century madrasah and one of the world's oldest surviving copies of the Uthman Quran.
Tashkent Tower
A 375-metre tower with a revolving restaurant and an observation deck overlooking the city and the Tian Shan mountains.
Alisher Navoi Park
A shaded park with a lake and rowboats, named after the greatest poet of classical Turkic literature.
Karavon Restaurant
A vast open-air national-cuisine restaurant famous for cooking Tashkent-style plov in dozens of giant cauldrons.
Chinara Teahouse
A cozy chaykhana in the shade of an old plane tree, serving green tea, samsa, and manti in a traditional setting.
Sayilgoh Street (Tashkent Broadway)
A pedestrian street of street artists and musicians linking Amir Timur Square with the opera house.
Cost of living in Tashkent
Tashkent remains one of the least expensive capitals in the region, but rents have risen noticeably in a few years, and housing prices are quoted in dollars. One person with rent needs $1,000-1,200 a month, a couple $1,300-1,600 and a family with a child from $1,900.
| Household | Per month with rent |
|---|---|
| One person | $1,000-1,200 |
| A couple | $1,300-1,600 |
| A family with a child | from $1,900 |
Rent by district, per month
| District | One-room flat, 40 m² | Three-room flat, 80 m² |
|---|---|---|
| Mirabad | ~$460 | ~$920 |
| Yakkasaray | ~$420 | ~$840 |
| Uchtepa | ~$310 | ~$620 |
| Sergeli | ~$300 | ~$590 |
Everyday prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Utilities, per month | ~$68 |
| Home internet, per month | $14-19 |
| Mobile plan, per month | $5-10 |
| Transport, per month | $11-13 |
| Lunch in an inexpensive café | $6-7 |
| One person's costs without rent, per month | $420-570 |
Rent by district is calculated for 40 and 80 m² flats at the average rates per square metre published by the state centre for economic research: across the city that is about $370 for a one-room flat and $740 for a three-room flat. New buildings and renovated flats in the centre cost more, $550-610 for a one-room flat.
Leases run for six months or a year, landlords ask for one or two months in advance, and the lease is registered with the tax service. Prices are quoted in dollars and paid in soums at the day's rate. State kindergartens and schools are inexpensive and teach in Uzbek and Russian, while international schools are paid for separately, the biggest item for a family after housing.
Prices checked: 07.10.2026. Prices across the country and in other cities are in the article on the cost of living in Uzbekistan.
A manager in the chat will calculate the budget for your family, taking into account the district, school and residence route. Calculate online.
Is it worth moving to Tashkent in 2026
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and Central Asia's largest city, with about three million people. In recent years the country has opened up to foreigners: it simplified entry, launched incentives for IT specialists and granted residence to foreigners buying expensive housing. Russian is understood almost everywhere in the city, rent and food are inexpensive, and taxes are simple: 12% on almost any income.
The city suits remote specialists, entrepreneurs working with Central Asian markets, and families who value an inexpensive life. The main difficulties are hot summers, winter smog, red tape with registration and documents, and the fact that you can become a tax resident here in less than 183 days.
Where to live in Tashkent: neighbourhoods
- Mirabad district - the city centre with embassies, offices, restaurants and quiet streets of older houses.
- Yakkasaray district - green area near the centre with embassies and parks, popular with foreigners.
- Yunusabad district - large residential area in the north with new buildings, schools and the metro.
- Mirzo-Ulugbek district - east of the city with universities, residential complexes and private houses.
- Tashkent City - new business quarter with high-rises, hotels and a mall.
- Shaykhantakhur district - the Old City, Chorsu bazaar and mahallas, atmospheric but with less modern housing.
- Chilanzar district - large residential area in the south-west with the metro and low prices.
Entry and residence
Citizens of more than 90 countries, including the European Union and the UK, enter Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days. If a trip lasts more than 15 days, temporary registration at the place of stay is required: hotels do it automatically, and when renting an apartment the landlord or you do it through public services. For long-term living, a temporary residence permit is obtained through work, business, study or family.
A separate route is residence for buying a new-build home: since 1 May 2022 this requires a purchase of at least $300,000 in Tashkent and the Tashkent region, with a lower threshold in other regions. IT specialists have a dedicated visa and incentives for working with residents of the state technology park.
Taxes in Uzbekistan
Income tax is 12% on almost all income, and since May 2022 the same rate applies to non-residents' salaries. Dividends and interest are taxed at 5%, VAT is 12%, corporate tax 15%, and 20% for banks and mobile operators. Sole traders and the self-employed with turnover up to $85,000 a year pay 1% of turnover. You can become a tax resident in less than 183 days if you spend more time in Uzbekistan than in any other country, and then 12% applies to foreign income too. A foreigner can be exempt through a special regime: spend at least 30 days in the country and pay $50,000. More on the page Taxes in Uzbekistan.
Renting and buying property
Foreigners can buy apartments in Uzbekistan, but land is not sold to them. A new-build purchase from $300,000 in Tashkent grants residence, and before the deal the developer's land rights and building permit are checked, as demolition and illegal construction disputes are common in Tashkent. Leases usually run for six months or a year, landlords ask for one or two months upfront, and the lease is registered with the tax service.
Climate and daily life
The climate is sharply continental: summer heat near 40 degrees, mild winters around zero and rare snow. The best months are April-May and September-October. Tashkent's metro is one of the most beautiful in the region, and high-speed trains reach Samarkand in about two hours. The official language is Uzbek, but almost everyone understands Russian, and it remains a working language in business. There are private clinics and international schools, while public hospitals are weaker. In winter the city can have smog from heating and dust.
Pitfalls
- Visa-free stays are limited to 60 days, and trips over 15 days need registration.
- You can become a tax resident in less than 183 days.
- Hot summers and winter smog.
- Land is not sold to foreigners.
- Documents and public services mostly in Uzbek.
- Demolition and illegal construction disputes when buying property.
Murblz specialists help with the residence permit, residence through property purchase, the company, the special tax regime and deal checks. A consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.
Services
Murblz services in Uzbekistan
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
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