Money of 5 Stans


What is the currency in Central Asia?

Each country in Central Asia has its own separate currency. Turkmenistan has the Manat (TMM), Uzbekistan has the Som (UZS), Kazakhstan's currency is the Tenge (KZT), in Kyrgyzstan it's also called Som (KGS), but is a completely separate currency to the Uzbek Som, and Tajikistan has the Somoni (TJS).

In the past few years, money has quite quickly become much easier to deal with in Central Asia than it was a decade ago. In the early 2010s there were very ATMs anywhere in Central Asia, even in the more developed cities of Almaty and Bishkek. Foreign exchange was generally a somewhat difficult and unpredictable aspect of travelling to this part of the world.


What was money like in the 5 Stans a few years ago?

Those who travelled in Central Asia in the mid 2010s (2015 or so) would have experienced relative ease in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (in major cities anyway), with some places accepting card payments, not exactly plenty, but enough ATMs accepting foreign cards, plenty of foreign exchange shops with good rates, and no black market to deal with. Kyrgyzstan has had a relatively stable currency for a long time, but Kazakhstan did go through a brief economic crisis in late 2015/early 2016. Aside from that few months though, Kazakhstan has also had a relatively stable currency.

At that point Tajikistan wasn't too bad, although ATMs and card payments were still very few and far between, and there was a black market, so it wasn't completely straight forward, but it was easy enough to navigate as long as you were prepared.

Uzbekistan at that point was a nightmare though. The black market was somewhere around 5-10 times the official rate and the largest note was worth around $0.20. Even a bottle of coke or a somsa would be paid for in a bundle of notes and wallets were completely useless - you needed a bag for your cash, and no bank cards worked for anything. Because of all this, it also make it incredibly difficult for any sort of foreign businesses or even non-profit organisations to do anything in Uzbekistan, which of course in turn exacerbates the problem.

However, Turkmenistan had an incredibly stable currency at this point, with the TMM being pegged to the USD at a rate of $1 = 3.5.


Then what?

Then come 2017 and things changed drastically in both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan's black market was eradicated by the official rate gradually meeting the black market rate, whilst the artificial pegging of the TMM eventually backfired and a black market began emerging there. By 2018-2019 the Uzbek Som was basically completely stable (floating like any normal currency) and the TMM black market was out of control.


And how about now?

Now when you're preparing for a 5 Stans trip, you can rely on being able to use cards for payments or to withdraw cash from ATMs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan , without any issues really. Any major city or town in either country will have plenty of options on both those fronts. However, when travelling outside of major cities (especially in Kyrgyzstan), you will need to be prepared with cash - but that's fine, assuming that you start in a city or town that you can get cash in. Read more about money in these countries in our Kyrgyzstan money guide and Kazakhstan money guide .

Tajikistan isn't far behind, though ATMs which accept foreign cards are a bit harder to come by. There are plenty of exchange shops though, and many shops and restaurants in major cities and towns will accept card payments. (There is technically a black market, however the difference in rate between that and the official rate is so small that it's really not worth it.) You can read more about that in our Tajikistan money guide .

Uzbekistan is catching up with the western world very quickly on this front, however the financial infrastructure is still just a bit lacking. There are plenty of ATMs now that will accept foreign cards, however they still all have fees and mostly have very small withdrawal limits. Many places in major cities and towns will accept card payment, though it's also very common for their machines to be malfunctioning, and almost all card payments come with a fee. So although it won't be long until you don't need to worry about cash in Uzbekistan, for the moment it's still best not to rely on cards and make sure you have at least some of the money you'll need in foreign currency to be exchanged. Find out more about Uzbekistan's currency in our Uzbekistan money guide .

And then Turkmenistan is a whole other story.

The short version is that you must have all your required money in USD cash when travelling to Turkmenistan. There are no ATMs or card payments at all. Read more about it in our Turkmenistan money guide .





Example Tours

Turkmenistan Nowruz Tour
Originally Persian New Year, Nowruz has been well adopted by Central Asia, and in true Turkmen style they have really made it their own.

March 17, 2025
8 days
US$1495.00
Turkmenistan Nowruz Tour
Turkmenistan Nowruz Budget Tour
Ashgabat, the Gates of Hell and Nowruz.

March 20, 2025
5 days
US$1095.00
Turkmenistan Nowruz Budget Tour
Turkmenistan Easter Tour
From a fiery crater to a colourful canyon, a beach resort to a mountain village, and a glistening capital to an ancient city. This tour gives a glimpse of all our favourite spots in Turkmenistan.

April 19, 2025
8 days
US$1495.00
Turkmenistan Easter Tour
5 Stans Spring Tour
This is the tour for anyone who wants to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer. Can be done all in one whack, or in smaller sections, whatever you like!

April 19, 2025
24 days
US$3895.00
5 Stans Spring Tour
4 Stans Spring Tour
A 17 day adventure through Silk Road settlements, vast mountain ranges, winding valleys, and some of the coolest Soviet stuff that's still around.

April 26, 2025
17 days
US$2500.00
4 Stans Spring Tour
Kazakhstan Polygon Spring Tour
Journeying from the country's former capital to the new capital, via some of the craziest nuclear testing sites on the planet.

May 12, 2025
6 days
US$1295.00
Kazakhstan Polygon Spring Tour
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour
If you thought Turkmenistan was an exciting destination, imagine seeing it on Carpet Day!

May 19, 2025
8 days
US$1495.00
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Comprehensive Tour
We'll do everything you've heard of, plus some really wacky places that you've never heard of!

May 19, 2025
12 days
US$2195.00
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Comprehensive Tour
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Budget Tour
A great way to see a unique and very Turkmen event - who else has a National Carpet Day?!

May 23, 2025
4 days
US$995.00
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Budget Tour
Turkmenistan Extension
For those who want to see more of Turkmenistan while you're already there for the 5 Stans Summer Tour, exploring the west of the country, as well as Ashgabat and the Gates of Hell.

June 15, 2025
5 days
US$820.00
Turkmenistan Extension
Turkmenistan Summer Tour
Where better to spend your summer holidays than in Turkmenistan?

June 15, 2025
7 days
US$1440.00
Turkmenistan Summer Tour
5 Stans Summer Tour
This is the tour for anyone who wants to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer. Can be done all in one whack, or in smaller sections, whatever you like!

June 19, 2025
18 days
US$2680.00
5 Stans Summer Tour
Turkmenistan Melon Day Tour
Turkmenistan's calendar is full of events and holidays, but this has to be one of the most unique national holidays in the world. Come join us in Turkmenistan to celebrate their melons!

Aug. 9, 2025
8 days
US$1495.00
Turkmenistan Melon Day Tour
4 Stans Autumn Tour
Old and new, big and small, up and down, this itinerary has something for everyone.

Sept. 6, 2025
19 days
US$2830.00
4 Stans Autumn Tour
5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour
A great snapshot into 5 amazing countries.

Sept. 6, 2025
24 days
US$3825.00
5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour
5 Stans Autumn Original Tour
Taking the scenic route from Almaty to Ashgabat, this tour covers everything that makes Central Asia so special, from mountains, canyons and gorges, to buzzing modern cities, and of course, the Gates of Hell.

Sept. 6, 2025
28 days
US$4325.00
5 Stans Autumn Original Tour
5 Stans Autumn Mega Tour
An in-depth expedition through all of Central Asia, from Almaty to Ashgabat, through five of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Sept. 6, 2025
32 days
US$4945.00
5 Stans Autumn Mega Tour
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
For those who want to see the coolest Independence Day in the world, but only have a couple of days to do it in.

Sept. 26, 2025
4 days
US$995.00
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
We were the very first to ever have foreigners attend the Independence Day events in Ashgabat, and we're still super excited by it every year!

Sept. 26, 2025
8 days
US$1495.00
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.

Sept. 26, 2025
12 days
US$2195.00
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
For those who want to see the coolest Independence Day in the world, but only have a couple of days to do it in.

Sept. 26, 2026
4 days
US$1095.00
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
We were the very first to ever have foreigners attend the Independence Day events in Ashgabat, and we're still super excited by it every year!

Sept. 26, 2026
8 days
US$1595.00
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.

Sept. 26, 2026
12 days
US$2295.00
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour

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