Uzbekistan Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Uzbekistan uses the Uzbekistani som (UZS), and cash is still king, so arrive with some USD/EUR and a no‑fee card for ATM withdrawals, then pay in som for almost everything. Cards work in big-city hotels and restaurants, but you’ll still need cash for bazaars, taxis, and smaller guesthouses.

As of mid‑2026, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan lists the rate at around 12,000 UZS to 1 USD and about 13,900 UZS to 1 EUR, while 1 SGD is roughly 9,600 UZS according to recent market data from regional travel guides and bank rate summaries. Always check a live rates site or your banking app for current figures before you exchange.

Exchange money at banks, official exchange offices, or ATMs in cities like Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara; avoid street changers as they’re illegal and risky according to local travel advisories and tour operators. Many ATMs now work reliably with Visa and Mastercard, but daily withdrawal caps (often 2–5 million UZS) and local bank fees still apply.

To stay on top of your budget, the Hello app can track expenses in som and your home currency with automatic exchange rate conversion, which is handy when you’re splitting a 450,000 UZS dinner bill with friends. You can also arrive connected with a Hello eSIM for Uzbekistan so you can check live rates, map ATMs, and use ride‑hailing apps from the moment you land.

Uzbekistan’s official currency is the Uzbekistani som (UZS), and by law you must pay for goods and services in som, so plan to convert your foreign cash on arrival or withdraw directly from ATMs in local currency.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan confirms that the som (code UZS) is the only legal tender for everyday payments; you cannot pay shops or restaurants in USD or EUR, only exchange them at banks or authorized exchange offices. Recent Central Bank data for June 2026 shows approximate official rates of 12,000 UZS = 1 USD, 13,900 UZS = 1 EUR, and around 155 UZS = 1 RUB (with exchange offices usually 2–3% worse than the official rate). Independent travel money guides using Singapore market data put the rate at about 1 SGD ≈ 9,600 UZS in mid‑2026, though this moves with global forex markets.

Here is a quick reference table for planning:

Currency	Approx. rate to UZS (mid‑2026)	What this means
1 SGD	~9,600 UZS	100 SGD ≈ 960,000 UZS
1 USD	~12,000 UZS	100 USD ≈ 1,200,000 UZS
1 EUR	~13,900 UZS	100 EUR ≈ 1,390,000 UZS

Because inflation and the som’s exchange rate can shift, check a live source like the Central Bank website or a reputable currency converter right before your trip. The Hello app’s multi‑currency tracking automatically converts your spending in UZS back into SGD, USD, or EUR using live or near‑live rates, which is useful when you want to know what that 65,000 UZS plov in Samarkand costs in your home currency.

The safest and best-value way to exchange money in Uzbekistan is to use official banks, exchange offices, or currency ATMs, bringing clean USD or EUR notes and avoiding any informal street changers.

According to local banks and tour operators in Tashkent, you’ll find official exchange points at major banks, big hotels, and some large supermarkets and bazaars in cities like Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Bank branches often open roughly 09:00–17:00 on weekdays (shorter hours on Saturday, closed Sunday), while many hotel exchange offices operate much later or even 24/7 with short breaks. Airport exchange counters are convenient on arrival but typically offer slightly worse rates than city banks, so change only a starter amount there (for a taxi and first meal) and do the bulk of your exchange in town.

Practical tips that match what local money guides recommend:

• Bring crisp, undamaged notes: USD 50 and 100 bills usually get the best rates; old, torn, or marked notes may be rejected or given worse rates.
• Passport often required: Some banks will ask for ID for larger exchanges.
• Avoid street changers: Street exchange is illegal and carries risks of counterfeit bills and police fines, according to multiple Uzbekistan travel advisories.

For a typical mid‑range traveller, many bloggers report spending 600,000–1,000,000 UZS per day in 2026 (including accommodation, food, and transport). Carry enough cash for a few days in case ATMs are down, then top up using ATMs as needed. The Hello app can help you set a daily budget in your home currency while tracking all your UZS transactions in one place.

Visa and Mastercard work increasingly well in Uzbekistan’s big cities, but cash is still essential outside major hotels, malls, and upscale restaurants, so always keep enough som on hand for daily spending.

Travel agencies and bank guides note that ATMs are now common in Tashkent and present in other major tourist hubs like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, though coverage can be patchy in smaller towns. Many ATMs accept international Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards, but they usually dispense only UZS, not foreign currency. Typical withdrawal limits are around 2–5 million UZS per transaction, and your home bank may charge overseas withdrawal and currency conversion fees. Some local banks also add a small ATM fee, so withdrawing larger but less frequent amounts often works out cheaper.

Card acceptance is strongest in:

• Business hotels and international chains
• Upscale or tourist-focused restaurants and cafes
• Large supermarkets and shopping centers

However, many guesthouses, bazaar stalls, marshrutkas, and taxis are cash‑only, and small family‑run eateries may not accept cards at all. Contactless payments via international wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are growing but still far from universal, and domestic payment apps/cards dominate local digital payments rather than global services like WeChat Pay.

To easily find ATMs and check fees, you’ll want reliable data from the moment you land; an eSIM from Hello for Uzbekistan keeps your phone online so you can search for nearby ATMs, translate on‑screen instructions, and confirm suspicious charges immediately. Meanwhile, the Hello app’s expense tracking lets you tag ATM fees separately so you can see how much you’re spending just to access cash.

Tipping in Uzbekistan is appreciated but not strictly mandatory, with small cash tips in som common for guides, drivers, and restaurant staff in tourist areas, especially when service exceeds expectations.

Uzbekistan doesn’t have a long-standing tipping culture like the United States, but as tourism has grown (the country hosted over 6 million foreign visitors in 2023 according to the Uzbekistan Ministry of Tourism), tipping has become more common in major destinations. Many mid‑range and upscale restaurants in Tashkent or Samarkand add a service charge of 10–15% to the bill; in that case, rounding up or leaving a small extra amount (for example, adding 10,000–20,000 UZS) is enough if service was excellent.

Typical tipping ranges in 2026 are:

• Restaurants & cafes: If no service charge, 5–10% of the bill, or rounding up by 10,000–20,000 UZS on a 150,000–200,000 UZS meal.
• Guides: For a full‑day private tour, many travellers report tipping 80,000–150,000 UZS per day per group, more for specialized or multi‑day tours.
• Drivers: For day trips, 40,000–80,000 UZS depending on distance and service; for taxi rides, rounding up the fare by 5,000–10,000 UZS is common.
• Hotel staff: 10,000–20,000 UZS for bell staff or housekeeping after a multi‑night stay.

Always tip in UZS rather than foreign currency, as it’s easier for staff to use. The Hello app can help you quickly estimate tips in your home currency: if dinner is 220,000 UZS, the app can show that a 10% tip is about 22,000 UZS and what that equals in SGD or USD, so you’re never guessing at the math.

Uzbekistan is generally excellent value for money, with comfortable mid‑range travel often costing under 100 USD (about 1.2 million UZS) per person per day, and plenty of ways to save without cutting into the experience.

Based on 2026 price snapshots from regional travel agencies and recent backpacker reports, a typical mid‑range daily budget in cities like Tashkent or Bukhara is around 600,000–1,000,000 UZS per person. This usually covers a private room in a guesthouse, three meals, local transport, and a couple of tickets or activities. For perspective:

• Accommodation: Guesthouses/hostels from 200,000–350,000 UZS per night; mid‑range hotels from 450,000–800,000 UZS.
• Meals: Local eateries from 40,000–70,000 UZS for a basic plov or lagman; sit‑down restaurant dinners 120,000–250,000 UZS per person including drinks.
• Transport: City metro/bus rides in Tashkent often under 5,000 UZS; taxis across town 25,000–50,000 UZS if metered or agreed in advance.
• Sightseeing: Major monuments and museums often charge 30,000–100,000 UZS entry in 2026, with slightly higher prices at UNESCO‑listed sites.

Money‑saving tips:

• Eat where locals eat—bazaars and chaikhanas (tea houses) are both authentic and affordable.
• Use public transport or shared taxis where safe instead of always hiring private drivers.
• Book train tickets (like the Afrosiyob between Tashkent and Samarkand) in advance to get better seat options and avoid last‑minute markups.

The Hello app supports multi‑currency budgets and expense splitting, so if your group sets a shared cap of, say, 800,000 UZS per day each, the app can track what you all spend in UZS, convert it back to SGD or EUR automatically, and show who owes what in a single view.

Uzbekistan is generally safe and straightforward for handling money as long as you use official banks/ATMs, avoid street money changers, and carry a mix of cash and cards, especially when travelling outside Tashkent and Samarkand.

1. Can I pay in USD or EUR in Uzbekistan?
No. By law, everyday transactions must be in UZS. Hotels, shops, and restaurants expect payment in som, though they will often show prices in both UZS and sometimes USD for reference. Use your foreign currency only for exchanging at banks or official exchange offices.

2. Are credit cards widely accepted?
Visa and Mastercard are increasingly accepted in major hotels, upscale restaurants, and large stores in big cities, but cash still dominates, especially in bazaars, smaller cafes, rural areas, and guesthouses. Always have enough UZS for a day or two of expenses.

3. Which digital payment apps work in Uzbekistan?
Local systems and domestic bank cards dominate the digital payments scene. International apps like WeChat Pay or PayPay are not widely used, and foreign cards may not link to local wallets, so don’t rely on them as your main payment method.

4. What money scams should I watch for?
The main risks are unofficial street money changers offering slightly better rates but potentially giving counterfeit notes or luring you into illegal exchanges that can attract police fines. Also watch for taxi drivers refusing to use meters or quoting fares in USD, then converting unfairly; agree fares in UZS beforehand.

5. How can I track my spending easily?
The Hello app offers AI receipt scanning in any language, multi‑currency expense tracking with automatic exchange rates, and expense splitting—very helpful when sharing costs with friends and trying to keep track of whether that 3,500,000 UZS weekend in Khiva stayed on budget while planning your next country from the Uzbekistan page.