If you woke up today looking for the usd to uzs exchange rate uzbekistan today, you probably expected the usual story of the soum sliding further into oblivion. That’s been the script for years. But January 15, 2026, is telling a very different tale.
Right now, the official rate from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) sits at 11,969.66 UZS per 1 USD.
Wait, what?
Yeah, you read that right. It’s actually strengthened a bit. Just yesterday, we were looking at numbers closer to 12,001. If you're standing at a currency exchange window in Tashkent—maybe at NBU or Ipoteka Bank—you’ll likely see "Buy" rates around 11,940 and "Sell" rates hovering near 12,060.
Honestly, the soum is acting weirdly tough. For a currency that people used to carry around in literal sacks just to buy a bag of flour, this level of stability is kind of a flex. Throughout 2025, the soum actually appreciated by about 7% against the greenback. That’s not a typo. While other emerging market currencies are sweating, the soum is holding its ground, mostly thanks to a gold-fueled safety net and some aggressive moves by the central bank.
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The Real Story Behind the Numbers
Why isn't the dollar at 13,000 yet?
Economists like Mirkomil Kholboyev have been pointing out that the traditional "devaluation loop" has been broken by a few heavy-hitting factors. First, look at the gold. Uzbekistan is sitting on a mountain of it. As of early 2026, the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves have hit a massive $66.3 billion. When gold prices are high, Uzbekistan’s wallet is thick. That gold acts as a massive shock absorber for the national currency.
Then there’s the cash coming in from abroad. Remittances from migrant workers and a sudden surge in tourism have kept the supply of dollars high in the domestic market. Basically, when there are plenty of dollars floating around, the price of those dollars doesn't skyrocket.
But it’s not all sunshine and plov. This stronger soum is a double-edged sword.
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- For the average person: It’s great. It keeps the price of imported iPhones, cars, and medicine from jumping every Tuesday.
- For the government: It helps keep inflation in check. They’re aiming for 7% inflation this year, down from the double digits we saw not too long ago.
- For the exporters: It's a nightmare. If you’re selling Uzbek textiles or cherries to Europe or Russia, a "strong" soum makes your goods more expensive for foreigners. It eats into the profit margins of local businesses that the country is trying to grow.
Understanding the "Black Market" Myth
You’ll still hear old-timers or tourists asking about the "black market" rate. Let’s be clear: that’s a ghost of the past. Since the 2017 currency reforms, the gap between the "street" and the bank has basically vanished.
If you go to a market like Chorsu, you might find someone offering to swap bills, but the risk of getting scammed or handed counterfeit notes isn't worth the tiny difference in the rate. Banks and 24/7 exchange kiosks are everywhere now. Stick to them.
The CBU's current policy is all about "managed flexibility." They don't let the rate jump 500 points in a day because that causes panic. Instead, they nudge it. They use that $66 billion reserve to smooth out the bumps. It’s like a car with really good suspension; you still feel the road, but you don't get whiplash.
What to Expect for the Rest of 2026
If you're planning a business deal or a big trip, don't expect the soum to stay under 12,000 forever.
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The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the IMF are both looking at the long game. The EDB predicts the average exchange rate for 2026 will eventually settle around 12,800 UZS per 1 USD. Why the drop? Because the government is still dealing with a trade deficit—importing more than it exports—and eventually, that pressure has to leak out.
Also, the Central Bank has held the policy rate at 14%. That’s high. It means borrowing money in Uzbekistan is expensive, which keeps the soum scarce and its value higher. But you can only keep the brakes on for so long before the economy needs more "juice" to grow.
Quick Currency Cheat Sheet (Approximate Bank Rates)
| USD Amount | UZS You Get (Buying) | UZS You Pay (Selling) |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | 11,942 | 12,062 |
| $10 | 119,420 | 120,620 |
| $50 | 597,100 | 603,100 |
| $100 | 1,194,200 | 1,206,200 |
Pro Tips for Managing Your Money in Uzbekistan
If you're handling dollars here right now, you've got to be smart about the "crispness" factor. It’s a weird quirk of the local market, but banks are incredibly picky.
- Bring New Bills: If your $100 bill has a tiny tear, a stamp, or even a heavy fold, a bank might reject it or charge a "commission" for the wear and tear. Always bring the new, "blue" $100 notes if you're coming from abroad.
- Use the Apps: Don't just walk into a random bank branch. Apps like TBC Uzbekistan, Payme, or Click often allow you to swap currency digitally at slightly better rates than the physical teller window.
- ATM Strategy: Most ATMs in Tashkent will spit out soums, and many now allow you to withdraw USD directly if you have a Visa or Mastercard. Just watch out for the 1% to 3% transaction fees.
- Watch the Gold Price: Since the soum is so closely tied to gold exports, keep an eye on global bullion prices. If gold takes a massive dive on the London exchange, the soum usually follows suit a few weeks later.
The usd to uzs exchange rate uzbekistan today is a reflection of a country trying to mature. It’s moved from a volatile "junk" currency to something that looks surprisingly like a stable, emerging market asset. Whether this lasts depends on whether the government can keep those gold reserves high and inflation low.
For now, if you're holding dollars, you're not getting as much soum as you used to. But if you're living on a soum salary, your purchasing power is actually holding up better than most people predicted.
Actionable Insight for Today: If you need to exchange a large amount of USD (over $5,000), don't settle for the first bank you see. Call the head offices of Kapitalbank or Hamkorbank; they sometimes offer "preferential" rates for larger volumes that aren't posted on the front door. Check the official CBU site at 4:00 PM local time—that’s when they usually update the rate for the following day. If the new rate is significantly higher, wait until tomorrow to sell your dollars.