Uzbekistan operates on the som, abbreviated UZS, which replaced the som-coupon in 1994. The Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan issues banknotes in denominations of 1000, 5000, 10000, 50000, 100000, and 200000 som, alongside coins of 50, 100, 200, and 500 som. The 200000 som note, introduced in 2022, depicts the Registan Square and carries enhanced security features including watermarks and metallic threads. Exchange rates fluctuate but as of 2024 approximate 12000 som per US dollar, following the 2017 currency liberalization that eliminated the parallel black market and unified official and street rates. Before September 2017, Uzbekistan maintained strict currency controls creating a black market differential exceeding 100 percent, which ended when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev freed the som to float.
ATMs accepting international Visa and Mastercard exist in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, concentrated near hotels and major tourist sites. National Bank of Uzbekistan, Asaka Bank, and Kapitalbank operate the most reliable machines for foreign cards. Withdrawal limits typically cap at 2000000 to 3000000 som per transaction, equivalent to approximately 165 to 250 US dollars, with daily limits ranging from 5000000 to 10000000 som depending on the institution. Transaction fees from Uzbek banks usually run 15000 to 25000 som per withdrawal, in addition to fees your home bank charges. ATMs in smaller cities like Urgench or Termez function less reliably with foreign cards, and rural areas including parts of Fergana Valley often lack machines compatible with international networks entirely.
Currency exchange operates through state-licensed exchange bureaus called obmen valyut, identifiable by rates displayed in windows. Commercial banks including Uzpromstroybank and Ipoteka Bank also exchange currency during business hours, typically 0900 to 1700 Monday through Friday. Exchange bureaus at Tashkent International Airport operate 24 hours with rates approximately 2 to 3 percent below city center rates. The National Bank of Uzbekistan publishes official exchange rates daily, which form the basis for commercial exchange calculations. US dollars and euros remain most exchangeable; Canadian dollars, British pounds, and other currencies face either refusal or unfavorable rates outside Tashkent. Bring clean, undamaged bills printed after 2013, as many exchangers refuse worn, torn, or pre-2009 US currency citing counterfeiting concerns.
Credit card acceptance remains limited outside international hotels and select restaurants in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. The majority of guesthouses, cafes, transport services, and market vendors operate cash-only. Visa holds greater acceptance than Mastercard, while American Express and Discover face near-universal rejection. Card payment terminals charge merchants fees of 2 to 5 percent, which some businesses pass to customers as surcharges. The Grand Mir Hotel in Tashkent, Hilton Garden Inn Samarkand, and Mercure Tashkent accept major credit cards without surcharge, but smaller establishments like guesthouses in Khiva's Itchan Kala typically post "cash only" policies in multiple languages.
Mobile payment systems gained traction following government digitalization initiatives starting in 2018. Payme and Click represent the dominant digital wallet platforms, linked to Uzbek bank accounts and usable via smartphone apps. Payme, operated by Kapitalbank, claimed over 6 million users by 2023 and enables transfers, bill payments, and merchant purchases at participating locations. Click, developed by Uzcard National Processing Center, integrates with the national Uzcard payment system launched in 1999 to reduce dependence on international card networks. Both platforms require Uzbek phone numbers and local bank accounts, making them inaccessible to tourists. Humo, the second domestic card network alongside Uzcard, launched in 2019 and operates independently of Visa and Mastercard infrastructure. International visitors cannot typically open Uzbek bank accounts without residency permits, limiting digital payment options to international cards where accepted.
Internet connectivity in Uzbekistan underwent significant expansion following 2016 when the government-owned Uzbektelecom lost its monopoly. Uzmobile, Ucell, Beeline Uzbekistan, and Perfectum Mobile now compete in the mobile market. 4G LTE coverage reaches Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Andijan, and Namangan, while rural areas and mountainous regions like Chimgan rely on 3G or EDGE networks. UMS (Unitel) and Ucell provide the broadest rural coverage based on 2023 network maps. Mobile data packages for tourists typically cost 30000 to 50000 som for 10 to 15 gigabytes valid 30 days, purchased at branded stores in airports or city centers. Registering SIM cards requires passport presentation, with vendors entering passport details into national databases as mandated by 2018 regulations.
Public Wi-Fi operates in major hotels, airports, cafes in Tashkent and tourist areas of Samarkand and Bukhara. Tashkent International Airport provides free Wi-Fi for 60 minutes following SMS verification to an Uzbek or international number. International hotels including Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Hilton Tashkent City, and Wyndham Tashkent offer free in-room Wi-Fi with speeds ranging from 10 to 50 megabits per second download. Budget guesthouses in Bukhara and Khiva typically provide slower connections of 2 to 10 megabits per second, sufficient for messaging and browsing but inadequate for video streaming or large uploads. Cafes and restaurants advertising Wi-Fi may require purchase for password access, with connection quality varying from unusable to adequate for basic functions.
Internet censorship and monitoring persist despite reforms. The government lifted restrictions on several international news sites and reduced VPN blocking from 2019 onward, but Human Rights Watch and other organizations documented continued filtering of content deemed politically sensitive. VPN usage remains legal as of 2024, though specific protocols face intermittent blocking. Speed tests conducted in 2023 measured average mobile download speeds of 15 megabits per second in Tashkent, 8 megabits per second in Samarkand, and 5 megabits per second in regional centers. Fixed broadband in apartments and offices reaches higher speeds, with fiber connections in new Tashkent developments exceeding 100 megabits per second.
International calling from Uzbek mobile networks costs approximately 3000 to 5000 som per minute to Western Europe and North America through standard carrier rates. Purchasing international packages reduces rates to 1000 to 2000 som per minute. WhatsApp, Telegram, and similar internet-based calling and messaging services function freely, providing cost-free communication when Wi-Fi or mobile data connects. Telegram enjoys particularly high penetration in Uzbekistan, with government agencies and businesses maintaining official channels. Skype faced periodic disruptions in earlier years but operated reliably through 2023 and 2024.
Postal services operate through Uzbekiston Pochtasi, the national postal operator with branches in all district centers and major cities. Sending a postcard to Europe or North America costs approximately 12000 som, with delivery times ranging from 2 to 6 weeks. Express Mail Service (EMS) operated by Uzbekiston Pochtasi handles parcels with tracking, charging approximately 150000 to 300000 som for a 1-kilogram package to Europe, with delivery promised in 7 to 14 days though delays occur frequently. International courier services including DHL, FedEx, and UPS operate in Tashkent with offices near the city center and airport, offering more reliable but significantly costlier service. DHL rates for a 1-kilogram document envelope to Western Europe start around 300000 som with 3 to 5 day delivery.