Uzbekistan money guide 2026: UZS cash, ATMs, card payments, and budgeting tips

Currency Basics

The Uzbek Som (UZS) is the national currency. The official rate floats — use this app’s converter, your bank, or the Central Bank reference when planning.

Illustrative figures (they move weekly): • 1 USD is often in the low tens of thousands of UZS • 1 EUR tracks slightly above USD

Notes commonly used: 1,000 through 100,000 UZS. Large notes (50,000 / 100,000) reduce wallet bulk; keep smaller bills for marshrutkas and tea houses. Coins are uncommon.

Where to Exchange

• Banks: Best rates, available in all cities. Open Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat 9:00–13:00.
• Exchange offices: In bazaars and shopping areas. Slightly worse rates but more convenient hours.
• Hotels: Available but usually the worst rates.
• Airport: Rates are fair at Tashkent International arrivals hall.

NEVER exchange on the street. The black market has been eliminated since 2017 reforms and street dealers may be scammers.

Bring clean, undamaged USD or EUR bills (post-2009 preferred). Torn, marked, or old bills may be refused.

ATMs & Cards

ATMs dispensing UZS are widely available in cities: • Kapital Bank, NBU, Ipak Yuli Bank have the most machines • Visa and Mastercard accepted; AmEx is rare • Daily withdrawal limit: typically 2,000,000–5,000,000 UZS • ATM fees: usually free from the local bank; your home bank may charge

Card payments are accepted at: • Hotels, supermarkets (Korzinka, Makro), tourist restaurants, airlines • NOT at: bazaars, small shops, taxis, rural areas

Tip: Notify your bank of travel to Uzbekistan before departure to avoid card blocks.

Tipping Guide

Tipping is not obligatory but increasingly appreciated in tourist areas: • Restaurants: 5–10% at tourist restaurants; not expected at local eateries • Tour guides: $5–10 per day for private guides • Drivers: $3–5 per day • Hotel staff: 5,000–10,000 UZS for porters • Taxi drivers: Round up the fare • Hammam attendants: 10,000–20,000 UZS

Tipping in local currency is preferred. Always tip directly to the person.

Budgeting Tips

Daily budget estimates (per person): • Budget traveler: $25–40/day (hostels, local food, public transport) • Mid-range: $60–100/day (3★ hotels, guided tours, restaurants) • Luxury: $150–300/day (4-5★ hotels, private guides, fine dining)

Sample prices: • Local meal: 20,000–40,000 UZS ($1.5–3) • Tourist restaurant meal: 60,000–150,000 UZS ($5–12) • Taxi across city: 15,000–30,000 UZS ($1–2.5) • Museum entrance: 25,000–50,000 UZS ($2–4) • 1L bottled water: 3,000–5,000 UZS • Afrosiyob train Tashkent→Samarkand: $8–20