Tajikistan has been listed among the countries with the lowest bread prices globally.
Despite its position in the bottom third of the list, bread remains more expensive in Tajikistan than in neighboring Central Asian states, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.
As of October 17, the average price of a standard 500-gram loaf of white bread in Tajikistan was 5.22 somonis ($0.56), placing the country 110th out of 127 nations in terms of affordability.
By comparison:
In Kazakhstan, the same loaf costs 3.95 somonis or $0.43 (ranked 122nd), with an average monthly salary of around $975;
In Kyrgyzstan, 3.90 somonis or $0.42 (123rd), average salary $450;
In Uzbekistan, 3.60 somonis or $0.39 (124th), average salary $491.
The exchange rate of the Tajik somoni stood at 9.22 to the US dollar as of mid-October. As of July 2025, Tajikistan’s average monthly salary was reported at just $294.
Global Bread Prices: Wide Disparities
Bread prices vary dramatically across countries. At the top of the list, Iceland recorded the highest average cost per loaf at nearly 39 somonis ($4.22), though residents earn a gross average of $6,909 per month. Close behind are:
Switzerland - 35.03 somonis ($3.79), average monthly income around $5,769;
United States - 33.75 somonis ($3.65), with a monthly average of $6,228, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meanwhile, Algeria ranked as the most affordable country for bread, where a 500-gram loaf costs just 1.61 somonis ($0.17). However, the average net monthly salary there is about $317, based on 2021 figures.
Rising Bread Prices in Tajikistan
Despite its international ranking, Tajikistan has seen a steady increase in bread and flour prices throughout 2025. According to the Agency on Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, prices rose 4.7 per cent for bread and 4.9 per cent for flour in the first half of the year compared to December 2024.
In Dushanbe supermarkets, popular bread varieties now cost significantly more:
“Arzanda Boyarskiy” (550g) - 7.90 somonis ($0.85)
“Arzanda Krestyansky” (550g) - 7.80 somonis ($0.84)
“Makolli Darnitsky” (700g, yeast-free) - 13.80 somonis ($1.49)
“Noni Shohon” white bread (380g) - 4.40 somonis ($0.48)
Even traditional flatbread (non) has seen rising prices and shrinking sizes. Once sold for 3-4 somonis ($0.32-0.43), the price of a standard loaf now ranges from 5 to 6 somonis ($0.54-0.65), while its weight has dropped from 250-300 grams to just 230 grams in many cases.
Why Are Bread Prices Climbing?
The price hike is attributed to a mix of factors:
Increasing import costs for wheat
Higher energy and transportation expenses
A trend of "shrinkflation", where product weights are quietly reduced while prices stay the same or increase
While inflation in Tajikistan has shown signs of slowing, the country’s dependence on imported grain continues to expose it to global market pressures, making bread prices volatile and harder to manage for consumers.
