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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $357 in Namangan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $521 in Namangan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $684 in Namangan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 143% more than Namangan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Namangan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Namangan 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.02 UZS 48.1K

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$11.89 UZS 142.3K

58.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.07 UZS 48.7K

90.42%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.85 UZS 10.2K

125.88%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.38 UZS 4,504

107.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.22 UZS 2,636

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.54 UZS 18.4K

43.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.64 UZS 7,710

157.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.31 UZS 3,677

425.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.76 UZS 9,087

56.58%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.09 UZS 13.1K

83.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.45 UZS 113.2K

14.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.04 UZS 12.5K

165.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.77 UZS 21.2K

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.65 UZS 7,778

133.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.49 UZS 5,817

181.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.40 UZS 4,813

197.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.43 UZS 5,146

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

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

$0.19 UZS 2,248

363.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.37 UZS 4,483

267.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.30 UZS 3,543

346.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.33 UZS 27.9K

236.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$2.74 UZS 32.9K

399.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$11.63 UZS 139.3K

50.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$26.52 UZS 317.6K

55.84%

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

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$15.66 UZS 187.6K

256.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$31.31 UZS 375.0K

-16.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$201 UZS 2.4M

114.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$153 UZS 1.8M

56.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$300 UZS 3.6M

172.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$199 UZS 2.4M

156.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$404 UZS 4.8M

53.15%

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 Namangan: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $201 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 53% 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: $241 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 143% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $536 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $357 in Namangan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 236% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $357 in Namangan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Namangan costs $357 versus $869 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.