Uzbekistan
Profiled in Tashkent · Central Asia
Tashkent is a leafy, low-cost Silk Road capital where Soviet boulevards, blue-tiled mosques and a fast-growing cafe scene sit side by side.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Your money goes a long way here. Local food, transport and rent are cheap, but imported goods, Western brands and international schooling push a family budget up fast.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Tashkent
- Khast Imam ComplexThe spiritual heart of the city, home to the ancient Uthman Quran.
- Chorsu BazaarA huge domed market where locals shop for spices, bread, fruit and plov.
- Amir Timur SquareThe green central square built around a statue of Tamerlane.
- Independence SquareMustaqillik Maydoni, the vast civic plaza with fountains and monuments.
- Minor MosqueA serene white marble mosque on the canal, one of the newer landmarks.
- Tashkent MetroRide the older lines to see chandeliered, mosaic-covered stations.
- Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet TheatreGrand Soviet-era house with cheap tickets for opera and ballet.
- Kukeldash MadrasahA 16th-century religious school perched above Chorsu Bazaar.
- State Museum of History of UzbekistanA solid overview from ancient Sogdiana through the Timurids.
- Museum of Applied ArtsSet in a decorated merchant house showing embroidery, ceramics and carving.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- SamarkandThe Registan and its three madrasahs are about two hours away on the fast Afrosiyob train.
- BukharaA whole medieval old town of madrasahs and minarets, reachable by high-speed train for a long weekend.
- Chimgan mountainsTian Shan foothills about 1.5 hours out, with hiking in summer and a small ski scene in winter.
- Charvak reservoirA turquoise mountain lake near Chimgan, popular for swimming, boats and lakeside resorts.
- KokandA Fergana Valley town with the ornate palace of Khudayar Khan, good for a day of history.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Bon!The city's go-to bakery and coffee chain, reliable for pastries and a flat white.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Central Asian Plov CenterAlso called Besh Qozon, the famous cauldron plov spot near the TV tower, best at lunch.
- CaravanUpmarket Uzbek cooking in a courtyard setting with an attached crafts bazaar.
- AfsonaReliable Uzbek classics like manti, lagman and shurpa in a comfortable dining room.
- City GrillA popular local chain for steaks, grills and Western-style mains.
- EvosHomegrown fast-food chain doing cheap lavash and doner, handy with kids.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Bon!Fresh bread, pastries and eggs with decent coffee, open early across the city.
Residency
Uzbekistan grants temporary and permanent residence permits, with newer routes tied to skilled work and property purchase. The process is cheap but bureaucratic and mostly conducted in Uzbek or Russian.
Tax
Personal income is taxed at a flat 12 percent, and there is no wealth tax. Once you spend more than 183 days in the country you are treated as a tax resident on worldwide income.
Thinking about moving here for real? See the verified Uzbekistan residency and citizenship routes →
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Uzbekistan tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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