Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Tajikistan - cash only, or do cards work too?
There’s no metro in Dushanbe, and all public transit - marshrutkas, minibuses - runs on small cash payments. No cards, no mobile wallet support. I always kept a stash of 1, 2, and 5 TJS notes for rides. Super cheap, but very much a cash economy. You won’t get far trying to pay by card here.
Was surprised how old-school it all is. Rode a marshrutka to the market in Khujand and paid 2 Somoni in coins. No digital payment options at all. If you’re asking how to pay for transport in Tajikistan, the answer is 100% cash - and small change. Even newer buses didn’t have anything like contactless readers.
Took marshrutkas and buses daily while in Dushanbe. Each time I paid with cash - usually coins or small notes like 1-5 Somoni. There’s no tap card system, and I never saw anyone pay digitally. It’s super cheap, but very analog. Just wave the cash as you exit. Tip: always carry coins for this.
Forget cards - public transport in Tajikistan is fully cash-based. I used shared marshrutkas in Dushanbe and mini-buses in Khujand. Every ride was 1-3 TJS, paid directly to the driver. No tickets, no receipts, definitely no card readers. Keep small bills handy, because they won’t have change for big notes.