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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $336 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $516 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $696 in Bukhara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 159% more than Bukhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bukhara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bukhara 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.76 UZS 57.0K

-58.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$15.07 UZS 180.5K

24.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.91 UZS 46.8K

98.21%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.60 UZS 19.2K

20.00%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.45 UZS 5,426

75.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.28 UZS 3,338

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.37 UZS 28.4K

-6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.95 UZS 23.3K

87.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.52 UZS 6,218

217.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.35 UZS 4,208

365.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.57 UZS 18.7K

-24.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.41 UZS 16.8K

41.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.18 UZS 14.1K

133.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.66 UZS 19.9K

-28.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.89 UZS 22.6K

-19.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.78 UZS 9,343

76.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.37 UZS 4,390

221.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.30 UZS 3,573

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$4.08 UZS 48.9K

305.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.17 UZS 2,024

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.46 UZS 5,463

195.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.16 UZS 1,884

737.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.98 UZS 11.7K

25.51%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.28 UZS 51.3K

219.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$10.04 UZS 120.3K

73.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$77.8 UZS 932.2K

294.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,353 UZS 28.2M

520.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$14.96 UZS 179.1K

272.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$30.29 UZS 362.7K

-13.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$60.2 UZS 720.7K

42.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$59.3 UZS 709.6K

21.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$198 UZS 2.4M

117.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$101 UZS 1.2M

136.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$248 UZS 3.0M

229.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$121 UZS 1.5M

321.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$628 UZS 7.5M

215.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$300 UZS 3.6M

394.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$331 UZS 4.0M

86.78%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $198 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 87% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Bukhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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: $869 in Chiang Mai, $336 in Bukhara – roughly 159% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $504 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $336 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.8 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $336 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 $336 in Bukhara to $869 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.