Cost of Living: Almaty vs Tashkent (2026)

Kazakhstan vs Uzbekistan — relocation comparison

TL;DRTashkent is 20% cheaper on rent ($609/mo vs $756/mo). Tashkent is safer — homicide rate 1.4 vs 2.6 per 100k. Both cities require a personal relationship with your winter coat.
59
Livability Score
🇰🇿 Almaty
Kazakhstan
Full profile
54
Livability Score
🇺🇿 Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Full profile
Almaty edges ahead 59 to 54. Tashkent isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Tashkent
$148/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Tashkent
1.4 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Almaty
3.1/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
28°C vs 35°C summers
🗣️
English
Tashkent
higher proficiency score
Almaty
Metric
Tashkent
$756/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$609/mo
$361/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$121/mo
$2,640
🧳
Cost to land
$2,272
2.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.4 / 100k
28°C
☀️
Summer high
35°C
-9°C
❄️
Winter low
-1°C
133 Mbps
Internet speed
83 Mbps
3.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
2.1 / 10
Low (22/100)
🗣️
English ease
Low (31/100)
$41k
💼
GDP per capita
$12k
8.7%
📈
Inflation
9.6%
59 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
54 / 100

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

411
PISA
country avg
352
3
Intl schools
$352/mo
Childcare
full-day
$302/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 19% cheaper in Tashkent ($609/mo vs $756/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Tashkent (35°C vs 28°C).
  • Tashkent is safer by homicide rate (1.4 vs 2.6 per 100k).
  • Almaty scores higher on democracy (3.1 vs 2.1 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Tashkent (31/100 vs 22/100 English proficiency).

Almaty vs Tashkent — Common Questions

Is Almaty cheaper than Tashkent?

Tashkent is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $609/month in Tashkent vs $756/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Almaty or Tashkent?

Tashkent is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Almaty has a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 and Tashkent has 1.40 per 100,000.

Should I move to Almaty or Tashkent?

Almaty edges ahead 59 to 54. Tashkent isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Almaty or Tashkent?

Tashkent is warmer in summer (35°C vs 28°C). Almaty has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Almaty or Tashkent without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Tashkent (EF EPI score: 31/100) than in Almaty (22/100). In Tashkent, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Almaty, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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