Housing is one of people’s most essential needs, and information about its price is always of public interest. Owning property can significantly reduce household expenses, especially amid rising rental costs, and improve living conditions. Kun.uz examined current apartment prices in Central Asia’s largest cities and assessed the affordability of purchasing a home compared to average earnings.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent and Samarkand
By 2025, housing prices in Tashkent have started to stabilize. In the first half of the year, the average price per square meter in the primary market reached UZS 14.54 million (about $1,200). In Samarkand, this figure stood at UZS 11.17 million. Buying a 60-square-meter apartment from the primary market in Tashkent equals roughly 7 years and 2 months of average salary, while in Samarkand it would take around 12 years and 7 months.
Overall, Tashkent’s housing prices have nearly “frozen,” significantly reducing the investment appeal of real estate. The earlier “buy → resell quickly → earn big” model no longer works. Now it has shifted toward a “buy → wait long → possibly profit” model.
Kazakhstan: Astana and Almaty
Kazakhstan’s housing market continues to see price increases. According to the National Statistics Bureau, the average price per square meter of new housing in Astana reached 618,000 tenge ($1,128), while in the secondary market it stood at 664,000 tenge ($1,212). In Almaty, the figures were 648,000 tenge ($1,182) and 692,000 tenge ($1,263), respectively. As of July 1, the average monthly salary amounted to 598,000 tenge ($1,091) in Astana and 563,000 tenge ($1,027) in Almaty.
This means that purchasing a 60-square-meter apartment in the primary market would cost about 5 years and 2 months’ worth of average income in Astana, and 5 years and 9 months’ worth in Almaty.
Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek and Osh
In Kyrgyzstan’s capital, housing prices are rising much faster than inflation and last year’s figures. As of September, the average price per square meter in Bishkek’s primary market reached $1,404. The surge has been driven by a shortage of land for multi-story buildings, growing demand amid improving living standards, and rising construction material costs. In Osh, the average price per square meter stands at around $780.
Based on these figures, buying a 60-square-meter apartment in Bishkek would require approximately 11 years and 10 months of average salary, while in Osh it would take about 10 years and 2 months.
