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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $331 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $512 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $692 in Bukhara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 157% 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 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.98 UZS 59.9K

-60.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$15.03 UZS 181.0K

25.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.90 UZS 47.0K

103.08%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.54 UZS 18.5K

24.03%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.46 UZS 5,538

82.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.28 UZS 3,355

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.26 UZS 27.2K

-2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.98 UZS 23.8K

91.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.56 UZS 6,734

192.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.36 UZS 4,281

350.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.53 UZS 18.4K

-22.88%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.40 UZS 16.8K

43.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.13 UZS 13.6K

130.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.66 UZS 20.0K

-26.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.87 UZS 22.6K

-15.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.75 UZS 9,055

76.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.37 UZS 4,422

216.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.30 UZS 3,610

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.15 UZS 1,846

493.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.43 UZS 5,170

213.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.15 UZS 1,790

800.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.02 UZS 12.2K

24.51%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.18 UZS 50.3K

229.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$10.12 UZS 121.9K

73.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$77.7 UZS 935.2K

294.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,338 UZS 28.1M

534.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$14.95 UZS 180.0K

263.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.77 UZS 358.5K

-12.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$60.3 UZS 726.3K

40.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$59.5 UZS 716.6K

16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$203 UZS 2.4M

108.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$98.0 UZS 1.2M

142.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$250 UZS 3.0M

230.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$122 UZS 1.5M

321.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$630 UZS 7.6M

225.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$297 UZS 3.6M

413.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$328 UZS 3.9M

93.70%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $203 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 94% 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: $243 vs $52.0 – 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: $852 in Chiang Mai, $331 in Bukhara – roughly 157% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $497 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $331 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.7 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $331 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 $331 in Bukhara to $852 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.