Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bukhara Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bukhara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $341 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $520 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $699 in Bukhara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 149% more than Bukhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bukhara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bukhara 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.73 UZS 56.7K

-58.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$14.78 UZS 177.0K

24.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$3.96 UZS 47.4K

98.74%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.59 UZS 19.0K

22.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.48 UZS 5,757

77.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.28 UZS 3,319

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$2.26 UZS 27.1K

-5.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$1.96 UZS 23.5K

87.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.52 UZS 6,247

219.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.36 UZS 4,257

333.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.56 UZS 18.7K

-23.72%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.36 UZS 16.3K

46.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.18 UZS 14.1K

124.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.66 UZS 19.9K

-26.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.98 UZS 23.7K

-21.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.79 UZS 9,437

68.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.37 UZS 4,413

227.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.30 UZS 3,546

90.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$4.09 UZS 49.0K

315.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.17 UZS 2,058

435.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.45 UZS 5,435

213.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.14 UZS 1,686

857.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.02 UZS 12.2K

25.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ฿709.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K ฿728.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,291

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.05 ฿457

$4.28 UZS 51.3K

228.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$10.06 UZS 120.5K

75.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$303 ฿9,846

$77.3 UZS 926.0K

291.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$2,317 UZS 27.7M

545.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$14.92 UZS 178.7K

266.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$30.28 UZS 362.7K

-13.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$59.2 UZS 708.6K

44.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$59.8 UZS 716.5K

16.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$202 UZS 2.4M

111.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$101 UZS 1.2M

136.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$246 UZS 2.9M

230.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$122 UZS 1.5M

317.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$612 UZS 7.3M

230.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$303 UZS 3.6M

396.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$338 UZS 4.0M

84.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $202 in Bukhara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 84% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Bukhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $61.0 – making Bukhara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Bukhara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $848 in Chiang Mai, $341 in Bukhara – roughly 149% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $512 in Bukhara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukhara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $341 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.3 in Bukhara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $341 in Bukhara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $341 in Bukhara to $848 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bukhara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.