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 $345 in Bukhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $519 in Bukhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $693 in Bukhara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 147% 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.95 UZS 59.1K

-58.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$15.02 UZS 179.6K

24.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.88 UZS 46.3K

102.58%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.61 UZS 19.2K

26.09%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.48 UZS 5,753

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.30 UZS 3,636

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.33 UZS 27.9K

-8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.98 UZS 23.6K

85.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.55 UZS 6,633

214.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.33 UZS 3,909

375.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.57 UZS 18.7K

-23.57%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.36 UZS 16.2K

44.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.14 UZS 13.6K

142.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.72 UZS 20.5K

-31.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.88 UZS 22.5K

-15.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.74 UZS 8,872

87.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.39 UZS 4,683

197.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.33 UZS 3,886

57.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$4.12 UZS 49.3K

331.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.14 UZS 1,646

550.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.43 UZS 5,136

227.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.14 UZS 1,710

857.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.02 UZS 12.2K

20.59%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.30 UZS 51.4K

225.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$9.91 UZS 118.5K

80.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$77.0 UZS 919.9K

300.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$2,346 UZS 28.0M

525.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$15.05 UZS 179.9K

270.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$29.54 UZS 353.1K

-11.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$59.8 UZS 715.0K

41.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$59.6 UZS 711.9K

19.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$202 UZS 2.4M

109.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$101 UZS 1.2M

140.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$253 UZS 3.0M

215.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$121 UZS 1.4M

318.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$620 UZS 7.4M

209.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$307 UZS 3.7M

377.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$333 UZS 4.0M

78.96%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bukhara: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 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 79% 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: $244 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: $852 in Chiang Mai, $345 in Bukhara – roughly 147% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $518 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 $345 in Bukhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.0 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 $345 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 $345 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.