How much does it cost to travel in Uzbekistan: a detailed budget

One of the things that most surprises first-time visitors to Uzbekistan is not the scale of the Registan or the impossible blue of Khiva’s mosaics. It’s the restaurant bill. You look at the steaming plate of plov, the salad, the bread fresh from the tandyr, the tea that nobody has ever charged you for, and you think there must be a mistake. There isn’t. In 2026, Uzbekistan is one of the most affordable destinations you can visit outside Southeast Asia.

This article is not an exercise in optimism. It’s a breakdown based on real, up-to-date prices, with ranges covering everything from the traveller counting every euro to those who prefer a degree of comfort without splurging. Because the question of how much a trip to Uzbekistan costs has a heartening answer: less than you think.

The currency and exchange rate

The Uzbek sum (UZS) is the local currency. In April 2026, one euro is worth approximately 13,500 sum. The exchange rate has been official and stable since the 2017 liberalisation, so you can change money at banks, exchange offices or withdraw from ATMs without fear of being shortchanged.

ATMs work with Visa and Mastercard in all major cities. If you use a card with no foreign exchange fees (Revolut, Wise, N26), the rate you get is practically the market rate. I recommend also carrying 100-200 euros in cash as backup, especially if you plan to visit the Fergana Valley or less touristy areas.

Accommodation: the cost that varies most

Accommodation is the budget item with the widest margin for adjustment. Uzbekistan offers everything from hostel dormitories to boutique hotels housed in historic buildings, and the price difference is substantial.

Hostels and dormitories: 5-10 EUR per night. Tashkent has the best selection of modern hostels. Samarkand and Bukhara also have options, though fewer.

Guesthouses (B&Bs): 15-30 EUR per double room with breakfast included. This is the option I recommend unreservedly. In Bukhara and Khiva you’ll find traditional houses with interior courtyards, carved wooden ceilings and homemade breakfasts that are a journey in themselves. The treatment is personal, almost familial, and the quality is surprisingly high.

Boutique hotels: 40-80 EUR per night for a double. Samarkand and Bukhara have excellent options, many in tastefully restored buildings. For a special occasion or if you simply prefer more space and amenities, they’re worth it.

Chain hotels: 80-150 EUR in Tashkent. Only if you need the international standard for a specific reason.

Budget reference: Counting on good-quality guesthouses, a couple can budget 20-25 EUR per night for a double room with breakfast. A solo traveller, 15-20 EUR.

Food: abundant and cheap

Food in Uzbekistan is one of the great pleasures of the trip and, at the same time, one of the cheapest budget items.

Breakfast: Generally included at guesthouses and hotels. If not, a breakfast of samsa (flaky pastry filled with meat) and tea at a street stall costs 0.50-1 EUR.

Lunch at a local restaurant: A main dish (plov, laghman, shashlik) with salad and bread costs 1.50-3 EUR. Tea is almost always free or costs pennies. A neighbourhood restaurant where locals eat rarely exceeds 3 EUR per person all-in.

Dinner at a tourist restaurant: Tourist-oriented restaurants in Samarkand and Bukhara are pricier, but “pricier” in Uzbekistan means 5-10 EUR per person with a drink. At a Bukhara rooftop with minaret views, a full dinner with beer costs 8-12 EUR.

Street food and bazaars: This is where the budget shrinks to almost nothing. A freshly baked samsa: 0.20-0.40 EUR. A kilo of seasonal fruit at the bazaar: 0.50-1 EUR. A whole tandyr bread: 0.30 EUR.

Water: Tap water is not drinkable. A 1.5-litre bottle costs 0.20-0.40 EUR at any shop.

Budget reference: 8-15 EUR per day covers three full meals with room to spare, including the occasional dinner at a tourist restaurant. If you eat like the locals, you can get by on 5-8 EUR.

Transport between cities

Transport is a significant budget item because the distances are large: Tashkent to Samarkand is 300 km, Samarkand to Bukhara another 270 km, and Bukhara to Khiva nearly 450 km across the desert.

Afrosiyob high-speed train:

• Tashkent to Samarkand: 8-12 EUR (depending on class, 2h 10min)
• Tashkent to Bukhara: 12-18 EUR (3h 45min)
• Samarkand to Bukhara: 8-14 EUR (1h 30min)

Shared taxi:

• Bukhara to Khiva: 11-15 EUR per person (6-7h)
• If you prefer the whole car: 45-60 EUR

Domestic flight:

• Urgench (Khiva) to Tashkent: 30-50 EUR (1h 15min). Uzbekistan Airways operates this route several times daily.

Urban transport:

• Yandex Go (ride-hailing): 0.50-1.50 EUR per urban trip
• Tashkent metro: 0.12 EUR per ride
• Negotiated taxi in smaller cities: 1-3 EUR

Budget reference: The full route Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva-Tashkent (by train, shared taxi and return flight) costs 60-90 EUR total per person.

Entry fees and sightseeing

Uzbekistan is not an expensive country for monument entry, though prices have been gradually rising in recent years. Even so, they remain reasonable.

Samarkand:

• Registan: 4-5 EUR
• Shah-i-Zinda: 2-3 EUR
• Gur-e-Amir: 2-3 EUR
• Ulugbek Observatory: 1-2 EUR

Bukhara:

• Ark Fortress: 3-4 EUR
• Individual madrasas and mosques: 1-2 EUR each
• Many monuments are visible from the outside at no cost

Khiva (Ichan-Kala):

• General admission to the walled city: 6-8 EUR (includes access to several monuments)
• Islam Khodja Minaret (climb): 1-2 EUR extra

Budget reference: 25-40 EUR for all the main entry fees of the trip. Not a line item that hurts.

Communications: local SIM

Buying a local SIM is easy and cheap. At Tashkent airport you’ll find stands for Ucell, Beeline and Mobi. A SIM with 10-15 GB of data costs 3-5 EUR. 4G coverage is good in cities and acceptable on the road.

With local data you can use Google Maps (essential), Google Translate offline, Yandex Go and stay in touch without relying on hotel wifi.

Extras and treats

Crafts: Rishtan ceramics, hand-painted miniatures, ikat fabrics, Shakhrisabz knives. Prices vary widely, but as a reference: an artisan ceramic plate costs 3-8 EUR, a silk ikat scarf 10-25 EUR.

Hammam: A traditional bath in Bukhara costs 5-10 EUR with a basic massage included.

Local beer: A Sarbast or Pulsar at a restaurant: 0.80-1.50 EUR.

Tips: Not mandatory or expected in most contexts. At tourist restaurants, 5-10% is appreciated but not demanded. At guesthouses, leaving a modest tip at the end of your stay is a kind gesture.

Budget for 9 days (classic route)

Route: Tashkent (2) - Samarkand (3) - Bukhara (2) - Khiva (2)

Item	Budget	Mid-range	Comfortable
Accommodation (8 nights)	120 EUR	180 EUR	400 EUR
Food (9 days)	55 EUR	100 EUR	150 EUR
Intercity transport	60 EUR	75 EUR	120 EUR
Urban transport	10 EUR	15 EUR	25 EUR
Entry fees	25 EUR	35 EUR	35 EUR
SIM + extras	15 EUR	30 EUR	50 EUR
Total per person	285 EUR	435 EUR	780 EUR

The budget column assumes hostels or basic guesthouses, local food and shared transport. Mid-range means good-quality guesthouses and a mix of local and tourist restaurants. Comfortable means boutique hotels and the odd extra domestic flight.

Budget for 14 days (extended route)

Route: Tashkent (2) - Fergana Valley (2) - Samarkand (3) - Shakhrisabz (1) - Bukhara (3) - Khiva (3)

Item	Budget	Mid-range	Comfortable
Accommodation (13 nights)	195 EUR	295 EUR	650 EUR
Food (14 days)	85 EUR	155 EUR	240 EUR
Intercity transport	85 EUR	110 EUR	180 EUR
Urban transport	15 EUR	25 EUR	40 EUR
Entry fees	35 EUR	45 EUR	45 EUR
SIM + extras	20 EUR	45 EUR	80 EUR
Total per person	435 EUR	675 EUR	1,235 EUR

Yes, you read that right. It’s possible to travel for 14 days in Uzbekistan for under 500 euros, not counting international flights. And we’re not talking about a survival trip: we’re talking about sleeping well, eating abundantly and seeing everything worth seeing.

What’s not included

These budgets do not include:

• International flight: From Europe, flights to Tashkent with a stopover (Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Wizz Air direct in season) cost 250-450 EUR return depending on season and advance booking. From the US, expect 500-900 USD return.
• Travel insurance: 30-60 EUR for two weeks with a decent policy. Not optional.
• Aral Sea excursion: If you do it, budget an extra 80-150 EUR for logistics from Nukus (2 days).

Context matters

Prices in Uzbekistan are rising — slowly but steadily. Every year more tourists arrive, more expensive hotels open, tourist restaurants adjust prices upward. Nothing dramatic — we’re talking about a country that remains very cheap compared to virtually any European or Southeast Asian destination — but the trend is clear.

Going in 2026 means finding an almost perfect balance: enough infrastructure to travel comfortably, prices that haven’t yet been inflated by mass tourism, and an authenticity that expensive destinations lost long ago. It’s a good moment.

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For the full picture of every city, route and hidden corner in Uzbekistan, the Far Guides complete guide has it all: interactive maps, up-to-date information and offline access.