😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $516 in Nukus, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Nukus, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,080 in Nukus, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Nukus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Nukus are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Nukus61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$4.75UZS 56.8K
-57.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$20.62UZS 246.5K
-9.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$4.64UZS 55.5K
69.40%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$1.53UZS 18.3K
32.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.86UZS 10.3K
-6.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.25UZS 2,960
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$1.03UZS 12.3K
107.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.19UZS 14.2K
45.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.27UZS 3,252
481.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.38UZS 16.6K
-13.04%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$1.22UZS 14.6K
61.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$6.95UZS 83.1K
133.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$3.69UZS 44.1K
-17.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$8.00UZS 95.6K
35.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$1.22UZS 14.6K
127.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$2.21UZS 26.4K
-47.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$4.01UZS 47.9K
-57.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$1.53UZS 18.3K
3.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.49UZS 5,869
183.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.35UZS 4,209
231.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.51UZS 6,145
29.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.46UZS 5,532
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$1.77UZS 21.2K
162.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$2.91UZS 34.8K
511.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$0.82UZS 9,754
118.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$3.95UZS 47.2K
-15.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.17UZS 2,064
435.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$0.57UZS 6,772
147.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.60UZS 7,208
123.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$2.34UZS 27.9K
246.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.21UZS 14.4K
1.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$39.5KUZS 472.8M
-45.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$29.6KUZS 353.8M
-26.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$24.72UZS 295.6K
188.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$2.33UZS 27.9K
501.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$9.19UZS 109.8K
95.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$43.27UZS 517.3K
-5.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$6.16UZS 73.6K
11.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$2.61UZS 31.2K
119.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$17.14UZS 204.9K
225.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$19.44UZS 232.4K
33.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$55.3UZS 660.9K
28.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$199UZS 2.4M
112.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$152UZS 1.8M
59.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$299UZS 3.6M
166.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$199UZS 2.4M
154.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$158UZS 1.9M
277.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
23
-78.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nukus: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $199 in Nukus. 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 277% 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 $21.00 in Nukus. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $159 in Nukus – so Nukus wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Nukus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nukus?
Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Nukus, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Nukus?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $775 in Nukus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nukus?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nukus, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Nukus?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $516 in Nukus. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Nukus?
Groceries cost about 54% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Nukus?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $516 in Nukus, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nukus?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nukus costs $516 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Nukus?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Nukus?
If budget matters most, go with Nukus. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared