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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $358 in Namangan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $529 in Namangan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $700 in Namangan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Namangan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Namangan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Namangan 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.87 UZS 46.8K

-49.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$11.66 UZS 141.1K

61.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$4.03 UZS 48.7K

96.53%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$0.92 UZS 11.1K

107.61%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.37 UZS 4,522

127.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.20 UZS 2,414

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.63 UZS 19.7K

35.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.61 UZS 7,319

168.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.31 UZS 3,712

422.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.81 UZS 9,807

45.68%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$1.12 UZS 13.6K

79.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$9.37 UZS 113.3K

14.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$1.00 UZS 12.1K

161.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.77 UZS 21.4K

-31.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.64 UZS 7,777

146.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.48 UZS 5,832

175.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.41 UZS 4,944

185.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.47 UZS 5,692

19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.18 UZS 2,209

394.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.35 UZS 4,208

285.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.30 UZS 3,574

350.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$2.38 UZS 28.8K

246.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

$2.66 UZS 32.2K

417.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$11.69 UZS 141.5K

50.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$27.30 UZS 330.3K

52.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$15.75 UZS 190.5K

245.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$31.43 UZS 380.2K

-16.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$198 UZS 2.4M

113.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$149 UZS 1.8M

59.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$299 UZS 3.6M

175.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$198 UZS 2.4M

159.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$401 UZS 4.8M

58.58%

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 Namangan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $198 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 59% 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 $12.00 in Namangan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $72.0 – 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 138% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $538 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $358 in Namangan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 239% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $358 in Namangan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Namangan costs $358 versus $852 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.