Uzbekistan operates as one of Central Asia's most economically accessible destinations for foreign travelers, with government currency reforms enacted in September 2017 eliminating the parallel exchange market and establishing convertibility of the Uzbek som. The official exchange rate in 2024 fluctuates between 12,200 and 12,700 som per US dollar, though travelers should verify rates immediately before departure as the som experiences gradual depreciation against major currencies. Cash remains the dominant payment method outside Tashkent, with US dollars and euros accepted at official exchange points in major cities including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. ATMs dispensing som have proliferated in urban centers since 2019, though withdrawal limits typically cap at 2,000,000 som per transaction and machines frequently run empty in smaller cities. Credit cards see acceptance at mid-range and upper-tier hotels in Tashkent and major tourist centers, but cash transactions account for approximately 85 percent of all tourist expenditures according to Uzbekistan's State Committee for Tourism Development data from 2023.
Accommodation costs in Uzbekistan span from 50,000 som per night for basic guesthouses in residential neighborhoods to 2,500,000 som for five-star properties in central Tashkent. Budget travelers find substantial options in homestays and family-run guesthouses, with rooms in Bukhara's residential quarters typically priced between 80,000 and 150,000 som including breakfast. Samarkand offers similar accommodation at slightly lower rates due to greater supply, while Khiva's concentration of tourists within Itchan Kala drives guesthouse prices to 120,000-200,000 som for comparable rooms. Mid-range hotels with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and WiFi cluster around 300,000-600,000 som in historic cities, though facilities and service quality vary considerably even within this bracket. Tashkent's hotel market operates at a 20-30 percent premium over other cities, with acceptable three-star properties starting at 400,000 som. Booking platforms show limited inventory for Uzbek properties compared to other destinations, and direct booking through hotel websites or phone contact often yields lower rates than third-party aggregators. Travelers planning extended stays can negotiate weekly or monthly rates that reduce nightly costs by 15-25 percent at most establishments.
Domestic transportation represents one of the lowest expense categories for Uzbekistan visitors. The Afrosiyob high-speed train connecting Tashkent to Samarkand covers 344 kilometers in two hours and ten minutes, with economy class tickets priced at 108,000 som and business class at 173,000 som as of 2024 pricing. The same train extends from Samarkand to Bukhara in approximately one hour forty-five minutes, with similar fare structures. Regular electric trains operate parallel routes at less than half the speed for 40,000-60,000 som, appealing to budget-conscious travelers with flexible schedules. Shared taxis form the backbone of intercity travel outside the rail network, with four passengers splitting costs for routes such as Bukhara to Khiva at approximately 100,000 som per person for the five-hour journey. Within cities, taxis operate without meters, requiring negotiation before departure. Typical fares in Tashkent range from 10,000 som for short trips to 30,000 som for cross-city journeys, while smaller cities like Bukhara and Khiva see fares of 5,000-15,000 som. The ride-hailing app Yandex Taxi functions in Tashkent and Samarkand with transparent pricing typically 15-20 percent lower than negotiated street taxis. Public buses and marshrutkas charge 1,400-2,000 som per journey regardless of distance within city boundaries, though navigating routes requires Uzbek or Russian language capability and familiarity with the system. The Tashkent metro, operational since 1977, charges 1,400 som per journey and provides the most efficient transportation within the capital, though photography remains prohibited in stations.
Restaurant meals in Uzbekistan cost substantially less than comparable offerings in most neighboring countries. Street vendors sell non flatbread for 1,000-2,000 som per piece, while samsa pastries range from 3,000-5,000 som depending on filling and location. Local canteens called oshxona serve plov for 15,000-25,000 som per portion, with the dish traditionally consumed at midday when preparation is freshest. A full meal of lagman or shurpa with bread and tea at a neighborhood eatery costs 20,000-35,000 som, while the same meal at a tourist-oriented restaurant in Samarkand's Registan area reaches 60,000-80,000 som. Shashlik vendors operate throughout cities, with six skewers of lamb or beef priced at 25,000-40,000 som. Mid-range restaurants with table service, English menus, and tourist-standard hygiene charge 80,000-150,000 som per person for multi-course meals including appetizers and tea. Upscale establishments in Tashkent serving traditional Uzbek cuisine in renovated historic buildings or modern settings reach 200,000-350,000 som per person. Alcohol adds significantly to restaurant bills where available, as a 500ml domestic beer costs 15,000-25,000 som in restaurants compared to 6,000-10,000 som in shops, while imported wine starts at 150,000 som per bottle in licensed establishments. Tea remains ubiquitous and complimentary or nominal at traditional eateries, while bottled water costs 3,000-5,000 som for 1.5 liters. Markets offer substantial savings for travelers preparing their own meals, with fresh produce, bread, and dairy products priced at levels that make self-catering feasible on budgets below 100,000 som daily.
Entrance fees to Uzbekistan's major cultural sites follow standardized pricing established by the Ministry of Tourism, with most significant monuments charging 40,000-60,000 som for foreign visitors. The Registan Square complex in Samarkand costs 50,000 som, with individual madrasahs accessible through this ticket. Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis charges 40,000 som, while the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum requires 30,000 som. Bukhara implements a combined ticket system where 140,000 som grants access to approximately fifteen major sites including the Ark Fortress, Kalyan Minaret, and multiple historic madrasahs, representing better value than individual entry fees. Khiva's Itchan Kala operates the most expensive ticketing structure, with a comprehensive ticket at 200,000 som covering access to all monuments within the walled city for two days. Photography permits add 10,000-20,000 som at many sites, though enforcement varies and some locations include photography in the base ticket. The Savitsky Museum in Nukus charges 50,000 som for foreign visitors and houses Central Asia's second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art, assembled by Igor Savitsky between 1950 and 1984. Museums in Tashkent including the Amir Timur Museum and State Museum of History typically charge 20,000-35,000 som. Natural sites such as Chimgan Mountains and Charvak Reservoir impose no entrance fees, though ski equipment rental and chairlift tickets at Chimgan cost 150,000-300,000 som per day during the winter season from December through March.