In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Uzbekistan - any experiences?
We traveled in April 2024 and budgeted around $60/day for two - it was more than enough. Most hotels included breakfast, and we ate street food or mid-range restaurants. Sightseeing tickets (like Registan in Samarkand or the Ark in Bukhara) added up, but still way cheaper than Europe. What surprised us were hidden costs like paying in cash for museum toilets or small tips for guides. Uzbekistan is very budget-friendly, but it’s not 100% backpacker-easy - there’s a learning curve with money, transport, and comms.
Honestly, you can do Uzbekistan on a shoestring. I was hitchhiking between cities and couchsurfing in Nukus and Samarkand. Total spend: $300 in 3 weeks. Local food is filling and dirt cheap - think lagman and plov for $1.50 max. Buses and shared taxis are chaotic but cost next to nothing. Just don’t count on cards or even finding an ATM in smaller towns like Khiva - stock up on som in Tashkent or Samarkand before heading out.
Uzbekistan surprised me with how affordable it was for long stays. I was based in Tashkent for a month and lived comfortably on $500. I rented a serviced studio in Mirabad via Telegram groups for $250. The rest went to groceries, mobile data (UMS SIM was solid for remote work), and occasional splurges at hip cafes like Breadly or Bon! Cards worked in most city cafes, but not all. The low cost of living makes it a great digital nomad base if you’re okay with the language barrier and slower bureaucracy.
Spent two weeks across Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara this May and kept my Uzbekistan travel budget under $700, including trains, hostels, food, and SIM card. Intercity trains are super efficient and affordable - I booked via the UZ Railway site and got a Tashkent-Bukhara ticket for under $10. I ate well at local chaikhanas (teahouses) for $2-$3 per meal. Accommodation in Tashkent hostels ran around $12/night. Cash is still king, so factor in ATM fees. Also, Yandex Go rides within cities cost less than $2. It’s cheap, but carry USD for exchange - cards rarely worked in smaller towns.