Shahrisabz vs Fergana: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Fergana ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Shahrisabz is approximately 42% less expensive than Fergana based on cost of living including rent. This makes Shahrisabz a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Shahrisabz has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Shahrisabz is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Shahrisabz
Shahrisabz is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $250/mo and a single adult's budget tier at $319/mo, but the local average net salary of $420/mo means most residents are not living the expat life you are pricing out. The overall expat and FIRE scores of 85/100 look strong until you hit the digital nomad score of 49/100, the limited English proficiency, the very few expats, and internet at 12 Mbps, which is slow enough to make remote work painful. Add an air quality index of 85 and fair healthcare, and this is a retirement or budget-base play for the self-sufficient, not a social or professional hub. Come for the $3 restaurant meals and $9/mo internet, stay only if you genuinely do not need a crowd.
About Uzbekistan
Best for FIRE & GeoArbitrage due to a low COL Index of 24.2 and a 12% income tax rate, though no retirement visa exists and no minimum income is required for the digital nomad visa. Strongest advantage: monthly living costs of $481.50 (excluding rent) are roughly 76% cheaper than New York City, with a high expat safety rating. Key trade-off: limited English-speaking doctors and low English proficiency create a significant language barrier for daily life.
$2,550/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Fergana
Fergana is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $299/mo and internet at $10/mo, but a $604/mo average net salary means locals are not the ones renting the $1,494/mo three-bedrooms downtown. The gap between the $1,494/mo central three-bedroom and the $498/mo one outside the center tells you everything about how this rental market is split. Safety is decent at 65/100, but an air quality index of 72 and limited English make daily life rougher than the prices suggest. Come for the low costs, not for the digital nomad scene, which scores just 48/100.
About Uzbekistan
Best for FIRE & GeoArbitrage due to a low COL Index of 24.2 and a 12% income tax rate, though no retirement visa exists and no minimum income is required for the digital nomad visa. Strongest advantage: monthly living costs of $481.50 (excluding rent) are roughly 76% cheaper than New York City, with a high expat safety rating. Key trade-off: limited English-speaking doctors and low English proficiency create a significant language barrier for daily life.
$1,328/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Shahrisabz | Fergana |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $250 | $354.79 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $180 | $298.83 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $200 | $1494.14 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $150 | $498.05 |
| Safety Index | 55 | 65 |
| Internet Speed | 12Mbps | 20Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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Shahrisabz vs Fergana -- Frequently Asked Questions
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