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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $684 in Namangan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Namangan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,184 in Namangan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 36% more than Namangan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Namangan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Namangan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.14 UZS 48.7K

-49.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$12.70 UZS 149.4K

54.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.15 UZS 48.8K

36.63%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.45 UZS 17.0K

24.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.68 UZS 8,020

13.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.30 UZS 3,496

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.66 UZS 19.6K

33.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.71 UZS 8,384

188.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.33 UZS 3,863

357.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.88 UZS 10.3K

59.09%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.11 UZS 13.1K

103.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.37 UZS 39.6K

-13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.09 UZS 118.6K

-6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.02 UZS 12.0K

162.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.87 UZS 22.0K

-41.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.43 UZS 28.5K

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.71 UZS 8,328

105.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.53 UZS 6,204

141.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.41 UZS 4,764

158.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.24 UZS 2,819

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.45 UZS 5,246

17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.07 UZS 24.3K

104.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.21 UZS 2,451

319.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.36 UZS 4,261

225.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.20 UZS 2,347

190.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.63 UZS 30.9K

-9.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.19 UZS 14.0K

21.85%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$212 UZS 2.5M

-70.04%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$2.80 UZS 32.9K

360.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.54 UZS 147.4K

63.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$102 UZS 1.2M

-61.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$12.79 UZS 150.4K

-69.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.28 UZS 50.4K

53.74%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$17.25 UZS 202.9K

219.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$34.02 UZS 400.1K

-27.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$202 UZS 2.4M

143.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$152 UZS 1.8M

89.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$299 UZS 3.5M

198.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$201 UZS 2.4M

159.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$400 UZS 4.7M

50.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Namangan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $202 in Namangan. 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 51% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Namangan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $104 – making Namangan 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 Namangan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 36% more than Namangan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,026 in Namangan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Namangan, 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $684 in Namangan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 132% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Namangan, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Namangan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Namangan costs $684 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Namangan. 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.