Cost of Living - The Times Of Central Asia

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Oil and Gas Cost of Living

Tajikistan Struggling With Cost of Imports

Compared to 2022, Tajikistan imported 164,200 tons more oil products in 2023, an increase of 11.6%, Safarali Qurbanzoda, the Anti-Monopoly Service's first deputy head has announced. “According to the customs office, in 2023, 1,413,000 tons of oil products worth $892 million were imported into the republic with an average price of $631 dollars per ton. More precisely, 436,500 tons of diesel fuel, 348,100 tons of gasoline, 411,000 tons of liquefied gas and 218,000 tons of petroleum products were imported,” he stated at a press conference. Qurbanzoda added that 25.9 % of these products came from Kazakhstan, and 0.7 % from Russia, with the cost of purchases increasing by 20%. Prices at gas stations in Tajikistan also increased throughout 2023. Buses in Khojand, the second-most populous city, were stopped in October 2023 because of a sharp spike in the cost of diesel fuel, according to a report from the regional portal, SugdNews. The anti-monopoly agency attributed the rise in domestic fuel prices to “increased prices in exporting countries.”

Cost of Living

Set of Quadruplets Born in Dushanbe

A set of quadruplets, one boy and three girls, have been born in Dushanbe. They weigh between 1.8 and 2.2 kg, and doctors have declared the newborns to be in good health. The quadruplets' parents intended to give them the names Ahmadjan, Hosiya, Aliya, and Sumaya. The family doesn't yet own a home, are paying exorbitant rent for a one-room apartment, and are seeking assistance from the government. The father of the quadruplets, Kanoatsho Khudoyorov, hopes they will be assigned a one-room apartment in the capital, saying their load would be lessened multiple times over by such a kind deed. “It is difficult to look after and feed children in the village,” he stated. Parents with four or more children have, for a few years now, been eligible for housing assistance or financial aid from the government. While Khudoyorov is very happy about the birth of his children, he's also concerned about the family’s future, because, as the kids get older, the cost will only mount. He finds it challenging to find work that pays the rent, utility bills, and the kids’ needs. “We pay 4,000 somoni ($365) for this apartment; the term ends on February 10, and I need to find a cheaper apartment. My salary is not enough for everything,” said the construction worker. This is the second instance of quadruplets born this year in Tajikistan. Two sons and two daughters were born on January 14th to 27-year-old Mijgona Asoeva of Kizilkala village in the Khatlon Region.

Cost of Living

Almaty is the Most Expensive City in Central Asia

Almaty has been ranked as the most expensive city in Central Asia according to the "cost of living" index regularly published by the Numbeo service. In terms of goods and services prices, including rent, food, and catering, Almaty has surpassed Central Asian capitals such as Astana, Tashkent, and Bishkek. According to the data, a family of four in Almaty spends approximately $2,157 per month not including rent, while an individual can live for an average of $598.50 excluding housing costs. The city also has the most expensive restaurants in Central Asia. Most Almaty residents spend their money not on high cuisine, however, but on real estate rent, with an average of one-third of the family budget being spent on renting an apartment. However, when compared across Asia, Almaty ranks 40th out of 86 cities, positioned between Turkish Antalya and Chinese Hangzhou. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, ranks 49th, making it cheaper than Bali, but more expensive than Baku. The most expensive Asian cities for the cost of living are Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv, whilst globally, Zurich and Singapore are considered the most expensive places to live.