Uzbekistan Among Countries with the Lowest Cost of Living in the World — Numbeo Ranking

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has been ranked among the countries with the lowest cost of living globally, according to data from the international analytical platform Numbeo.

In the latest survey, the country placed 138th out of 155 nations included in the ranking. Numbeo’s methodology assumes that the lower a country’s position, the cheaper it is to live there. Uzbekistan’s cost of living index stood at 27.3 points, one of the lowest figures worldwide.

The calculations were benchmarked against New York, where the price level is set at 100 points. The index takes into account expenses for housing rent, utilities, groceries, dining out, and the population’s purchasing power.

The platform noted that Uzbekistan shows low prices across nearly all key categories. The rent index reached 12.2 points, reflecting relatively affordable housing. The cost-of-living index including rent was 20.6 points. Grocery prices were rated at 30.1 points, while restaurant and café expenses scored 23 points. At the same time, the purchasing power index was 47.8 points, indicating limited income levels compared to more developed economies.

Thus, Uzbekistan remains a country with low prices for both essential goods and services, though affordability is largely linked to relatively modest household incomes.

Other Central Asian countries also ranked in the lower tier of the global index. Kazakhstan ranked 128th with 29.8 points, Tajikistan 136th with 27.9 points, and Kyrgyzstan 140th with 27.3 points. No data were available for Turkmenistan.

Numbeo identified Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the Virgin Islands as the most expensive countries to live in. Countries with the lowest cost of living included Pakistan, India, and Libya.

Experts emphasize that a low cost of living does not necessarily indicate high prosperity. Purchasing power remains the key indicator of quality of life, reflecting how effectively residents’ incomes cover everyday expenses.