Uzbekistan named among the world’s cheapest countries to live

Uzbekistan has been ranked among the world’s cheapest countries to live in, according to figures published by the international analytical platform Numbeo.

The study shows that the republic placed 138th out of 155 countries (the lower the ranking position, the cheaper the cost of living). Uzbekistan’s cost of living index stood at 27.3 points, one of the lowest figures globally.

New York City in the United States was used as the baseline for comparison in compiling the ranking, with its price level conventionally set at 100 points. The lower the index, the cheaper it is to live in a given country. The calculation takes into account housing rent, utilities, food, restaurant expenses, and purchasing power.

According to Numbeo, low price levels in Uzbekistan were recorded across nearly all key spending categories.

Cost of living index (overall price level) – 27.3 points.

• Rent index – 12.2 points, indicating relatively low rental costs;
• Cost of living index including rent – 20.6 points;
• Groceries price index – 30.1 points;
• Restaurant and café price index – 23 points;
• Local purchasing power index – 47.8.

As a result, Uzbekistan remains a country with low prices for both basic goods and services. At the same time, the purchasing power indicator reflects the population’s limited income levels.

Central Asian countries are positioned in the lower part of the global list – among states with the lowest cost of living:

• Kazakhstan – 128th place (cost of living index – 29.8);
• Tajikistan – 136th place (27.9);
• Uzbekistan – 138th place (27.3);
• Kyrgyzstan – 140th place (27.3);
• No data is available for Turkmenistan.

The most expensive countries to live in, according to the ranking, were Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Countries with the lowest cost of living include Pakistan, India, and Libya.

A low cost of living does not always mean a high standard of well-being. To assess real quality of life, purchasing power, which reflects how well incomes cover daily expenses, is of crucial importance.