Cost Of Living For a Couple in Uzbekistan 2024

Average monthly spending for couples in Uzbekistan

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Uzbekistan?

Couples in Uzbekistan spend around 1.6M UZS per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 520,000 UZS or as high as 8.3M UZS. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Uzbekistan

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Uzbekistan

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in Uzbekistan spend around 84% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 78% of their income while some as high as 91%.

How do couples spend their money in Uzbekistan?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Uzbekistan typically spend from 19% to 36% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 530,000 UZS with expenditure ranging from 180,000 UZS to 2.8M UZS. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Uzbekistan ranges from 6% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 70,000 UZS with 21,000 UZS and 460,000 UZS being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 62,000 UZS to 990,000 UZS in a month on commuting with 190,000 UZS being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 13%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Uzbekistan is 220,000 UZS. The cost of groceries can range between 72,000 UZS to 1.2M UZS. Couples spend on average about 18% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 23% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in Uzbekistan allocate 9% to 19% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 15%. The range of medical expenses range from 57,000 UZS to 910,000 UZS with 170,000 UZS being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 31,000 UZS to 500,000 UZS with 93,000 UZS being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 31,000 UZS per month with 10,000 UZS being the minimum spent amount and 170,000 UZS being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in Uzbekistan are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 49% of surveyed couples in Uzbekistan said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 51% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 9% to 29% of their monthly income to their savings, with 16% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 430,000 UZS with 140,000 UZS and 2.3M UZS being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Uzbekistan

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Uzbekistan. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 12% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 22% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 14% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in Uzbekistan

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Uzbekistan

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Uzbekistan?

Around 43% of surveyed couples think that living in Uzbekistan is affordable with proper budgeting while 57% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Uzbekistan

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options54%

Few low-cost options46%

Based on the survey, 54% of the couples living in Uzbekistan have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 46% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of Uzbekistan whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes42%

No58%

Based on the survey, 58% of the couples living in Uzbekistan said that they don't have an emergency fund while 42% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Uzbekistan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy38%

We asked couple guardians and parents in Uzbekistan whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 62% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 38% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Uzbekistan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 56% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 44% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance56%

Easily manages finances44%

Financial goals of couples in Uzbekistan

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Uzbekistan, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 45% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 11% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 6% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 15% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Uzbekistan

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 31% of the couples in Uzbekistan have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 69% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Uzbekistan

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 33% of a couple's monthly income in Uzbekistan goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Uzbekistan pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 20% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 15% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 17% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 9% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Uzbekistan

7% of debtors in Uzbekistan confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 31% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 13% of people and personal loans rose at 45%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Uzbekistan.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Uzbekistan

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Uzbekistan how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Uzbekistan

Rent Cost in Uzbekistan

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

110,000 UZS

170,000 UZS

440,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.8

$13

$35

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

170,000 UZS

260,000 UZS

660,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$21

$53

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

220,000 UZS

330,000 UZS

880,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$27

$71

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

260,000 UZS

440,000 UZS

1.2M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21

$35

$96

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

530,000 UZS

1.3M UZS

2.6M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42

$110

$210

Townhouse monthly rent cost

440,000 UZS

660,000 UZS

1.9M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$53

$150

House monthly rent cost

530,000 UZS

1.3M UZS

2.6M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42

$110

$210

Villa monthly rent cost

660,000 UZS

1.7M UZS

2.6M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$53

$130

$210

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Uzbekistan ranges between 110,000 UZS and 440,000 UZS, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 170,000 UZS to 660,000 UZS. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 220,000 UZS and 880,000 UZS per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 260,000 UZS to 1.2M UZS. The average rent of a townhouse in Uzbekistan is around 660,000 UZS while house rental costs can be as high as 1.3M UZS per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 660,000 UZS to 2.6M UZS per month.

Apartment and house prices in Uzbekistan

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

22M UZS

33M UZS

66M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,800

$2,700

$5,300

1-bedroom apartment price

26M UZS

44M UZS

170M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,100

$3,500

$13,000

2-bedroom apartment price

44M UZS

130M UZS

260M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,500

$11,000

$21,000

3-bedroom apartment price

150M UZS

220M UZS

660M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12,000

$18,000

$53,000

Townhouse price

190M UZS

440M UZS

1,700M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15,000

$35,000

$130,000

House price

220M UZS

1,300M UZS

1,900M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18,000

$110,000

$150,000

Villa price

260M UZS

1,500M UZS

2,200M UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$120,000

$180,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Uzbekistan can range from 22M UZS to 66M UZS depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 26M UZS to 170M UZS. A villa can cost you 1,500M UZS on average with prices ranging from 260M UZS to 2,200M UZS.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Uzbekistan can be x77 to x186 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x77 multiples of the average monthly salary in Uzbekistan.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Uzbekistan is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Uzbekistan

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Uzbekistan

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

21,000 UZS

70,000 UZS

460,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$5.6

$36

Internet and cable cost

6,600 UZS

13,000 UZS

18,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.53

$1.1

$1.4

Mobile phone bill and charges

5,300 UZS

8,800 UZS

26,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.42

$0.71

$2.1

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 70,000 UZS. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 6,600 UZS to 18,000 UZS with 13,000 UZS being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 8,800 UZS but can range between 5,300 UZS and 26,000 UZS depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Uzbekistan is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Uzbekistan

Prices and cost of goods and services in Uzbekistan

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

1,300 UZS

2,600 UZS

4,400 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.11

$0.21

$0.35

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Uzbekistan is approximatly 2,600 UZS with meal cost ranging from 1,300 UZS to 4,400 UZS. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

4,400 UZS

6,600 UZS

13,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.35

$0.53

$1.1

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 4,400 UZS and 13,000 UZS with 6,600 UZS being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Uzbekistan.

Fine dining meal for one price

8,800 UZS

13,000 UZS

53,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.71

$1.1

$4.2

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 8,800 UZS to 53,000 UZS with the average cost being 13,000 UZS for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Uzbekistan.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

1,100 UZS

1,800 UZS

2,600 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.09

$0.14

$0.21

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Uzbekistan is around 1,800 UZS. Price ranges between 1,100 UZS and 2,600 UZS depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

880 UZS

1,100 UZS

1,300 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.07

$0.08

$0.11

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Uzbekistan is 1,100 UZS. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 1,300 UZS and the minimum being 880 UZS depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

660 UZS

880 UZS

1,300 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.05

$0.07

$0.11

A dozen eggs costs around 880 UZS on average with 660 UZS and 1,300 UZS being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

1,500 UZS

1,900 UZS

2,800 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.12

$0.16

$0.22

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Uzbekistan is between 1,500 UZS and 2,800 UZS depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,900 UZS.

Pack of beef price

1,800 UZS

2,600 UZS

5,300 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.14

$0.21

$0.42

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 2,600 UZS. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

710 UZS

970 UZS

1,400 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.06

$0.08

$0.11

A bag of rice in Uzbekistan costs around 970 UZS on average with prices rangeing between 710 UZS and 1,400 UZS depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

260 UZS

350 UZS

660 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.02

$0.03

$0.05

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 260 UZS to 660 UZS. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

470 UZS

620 UZS

1,000 UZS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.04

$0.05

$0.08

A bag of apples costs 620 UZS on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Uzbekistan is around 28%. This means that couples spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 34% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples