Cost of living in Uzbekistan
If you're planning on relocating from Malaysia to Uzbekistan it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.
Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between Uzbekistan & Malaysia, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between Uzbekistan & Malaysia?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between Uzbekistan & Malaysia, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.
To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in Uzbekistan such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.
Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from Uzbekistan & Malaysia with low fees and great rates.
Is Uzbekistan expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in Uzbekistan is 18.8% lower vs Malaysia when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in Uzbekistan is 7.3% lower vs Malaysia.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in Uzbekistan is 45.4% higher than Malaysia.
Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.
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Transport in Uzbekistan
Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in Uzbekistan. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.
| Transport | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | RM3 (лв8,822) | RM0.7 (лв2,058) | -77.2% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | RM50 (лв147,036) | RM44.7 (лв131,450) | -10.7% |
| Taxi start | RM5 (лв14,704) | RM2.2 (лв6,470) | -55.8% |
| Taxi (1km) | RM3.8 (лв11,175) | RM1.3 (лв3,823) | -64.6% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | RM20 (лв58,814) | RM17.1 (лв50,286) | -14.4% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | RM2.1 (лв6,175) | RM4.4 (лв12,939) | 114.4% |
Utilities (monthly) in Uzbekistan
No matter where you choose to live in Uzbekistan you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in Uzbekistan as an example.
| Item | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | RM212 (лв6,470) | RM183.5 (лв539,620) | -13.5% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | RM44.6 (лв131,156) | RM16 (лв47,051) | -64.2% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | RM113.7 (лв334,359) | RM50.8 (лв149,388) | -55.3% |
Grocery costs in Uzbekistan
Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in Uzbekistan you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.
| Item | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | RM7.6 (лв22,349) | RM4.6 (лв13,527) | -39.1% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | RM4 (лв11,763) | RM2 (лв5,881) | -49% |
| Rice (1kg) | RM5.7 (лв16,762) | RM7.7 (лв22,643) | 34.8% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | RM8.6 (лв25,290) | RM7 (лв20,585) | -18.9% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | RM58.9 (лв173,208) | RM31.5 (лв92,632) | -46.6% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | RM16.9 (лв49,698) | RM17.1 (лв50,286) | 1% |
| Beef (1kg) | RM35.3 (лв103,807) | RM36 (лв105,866) | 2% |
| Apples (1kg) | RM11.9 (лв34,994) | RM5.7 (лв16,762) | -52.1% |
| Bananas (1kg) | RM6.2 (лв18,232) | RM7.8 (лв22,938) | 26.4% |
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Accommodation in Uzbekistan
If you’re moving to Uzbekistan you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.
| Accommodation | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | RM1628.7 (лв4,789,534) | RM2430.2 (лв7,146,513) | 49.2% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | RM1116.7 (лв3,283,891) | RM1549.6 (лв4,556,924) | 38.8% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | RM2909.6 (лв8,556,290) | RM4281.2 (лв12,589,768) | 47.1% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | RM1921.8 (лв5,651,456) | RM2755.2 (лв8,102,244) | 43.4% |
Salaries in Uzbekistan
The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in Uzbekistan is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.
| Salary | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | RM4060.1 (лв11,939,577) | RM2091.2 (лв6,149,613) | -48.5% |
Education and childcare in Uzbekistan
For people moving to Uzbekistan with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in Uzbekistan to help your research.
| Childcare | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | RM763 (лв2,243,762) | RM1306.6 (лв3,842,332) | 71.2% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | RM30772.3 (лв90,492,410) | RM32674.6 (лв96,086,523) | 6.2% |
Entertainment and eating out in Uzbekistan
Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for Uzbekistan. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.
| Entertainment | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | RM155.2 (лв456,398) | RM190 (лв558,735) | 22.5% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | RM28 (лв82,340) | RM48.1 (лв141,448) | 71.7% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | RM20 (лв58,814) | RM22.1 (лв64,990) | 10.6% |
| Eating out | Malaysia | Uzbekistan | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | RM15 (лв44,111) | RM18.8 (лв55,285) | 25.5% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | RM100 (лв294,071) | RM110.6 (лв325,243) | 10.6% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | RM18 (лв52,933) | RM17.7 (лв52,051) | -1.7% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | RM15 (лв44,111) | RM5.1 (лв14,998) | -65.8% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | RM15.4 (лв45,287) | RM13.1 (лв38,523) | -15% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | RM11.8 (лв34,700) | RM7.3 (лв21,467) | -38.1% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | RM3.2 (лв9,410) | RM2.5 (лв7,352) | -23.9% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | RM1.8 (лв5,293) | RM1.1 (лв3,235) | -37.2% |
Exchange rates between Malaysia & Uzbekistan
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between Malaysia & Uzbekistan is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the UZS/MYR exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between Uzbekistan & Malaysia is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.
If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from Uzbekistan & Malaysia with low fees and great rates.