😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $530 in Nukus, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $811 in Nukus, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,092 in Nukus, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Nukus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Nukus are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Nukus61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$4.66UZS 55.8K
-57.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$20.88UZS 250.1K
-9.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$4.73UZS 56.7K
63.85%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$1.51UZS 18.1K
27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.81UZS 9,643
-2.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.25UZS 2,988
44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$0.98UZS 11.8K
125.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.22UZS 14.6K
35.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.27UZS 3,238
503.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.41UZS 16.9K
-15.60%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.19UZS 14.3K
68.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$6.72UZS 80.5K
137.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$3.50UZS 41.9K
-13.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$7.92UZS 94.9K
37.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$1.22UZS 14.7K
126.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.22UZS 26.6K
-46.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$3.98UZS 47.6K
-58.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.45UZS 17.4K
4.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.46UZS 5,529
200.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.33UZS 3,920
260.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.52UZS 6,257
34.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.50UZS 6,032
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$1.77UZS 21.2K
158.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$2.95UZS 35.4K
461.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$0.75UZS 9,007
144.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$3.89UZS 46.6K
-17.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.17UZS 2,085
417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.53UZS 6,334
156.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.64UZS 7,711
109.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.42UZS 29.0K
223.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.15UZS 13.8K
6.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$39.3KUZS 470.2M
-44.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$30.0KUZS 359.3M
-24.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$24.60UZS 294.7K
186.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$2.40UZS 28.7K
470.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$9.70UZS 116.1K
79.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$42.09UZS 504.1K
-1.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$6.25UZS 74.8K
11.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$2.48UZS 29.7K
132.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$17.32UZS 207.4K
222.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$19.50UZS 233.6K
34.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$54.5UZS 652.8K
32.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$200UZS 2.4M
114.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$153UZS 1.8M
55.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$302UZS 3.6M
170.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$198UZS 2.4M
157.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nukus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$160UZS 1.9M
286.62%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nukus: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $200 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 287% 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $157 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 64% 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 vs Nukus?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $795 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $530 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 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 Nukus?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $530 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 $530 versus $869 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 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