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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $384 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $647 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $911 in Qarshi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Qarshi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Qarshi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Qarshi 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.70 UZS 56.2K

-56.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$20.76 UZS 248.2K

-9.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.74 UZS 104.5K

-10.07%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.69 UZS 20.3K

20.12%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.46 UZS 5,492

73.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.25 UZS 2,983

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.61 UZS 7,314

250.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.66 UZS 19.9K

-27.71%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.39 UZS 16.6K

41.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$6.03 UZS 72.1K

79.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.46 UZS 5,488

502.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.75 UZS 20.9K

-33.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.76 UZS 21.1K

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.25 UZS 2,992

456.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.43 UZS 5,135

20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.52 UZS 30.1K

84.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.19 UZS 2,312

378.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$9.46 UZS 113.1K

97.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.29 UZS 3,526

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.12 UZS 49.2K

240.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$31.54 UZS 377.0K

29.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$214 UZS 2.6M

97.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$196 UZS 2.3M

24.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$515 UZS 6.2M

54.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$397 UZS 4.7M

27.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$356 UZS 4.3M

67.02%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $214 in Qarshi. 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 67% 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 Qarshi. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $56.0 in Qarshi – so Qarshi 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 Qarshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Qarshi, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $575 in Qarshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qarshi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 97% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 336% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $384 in Qarshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qarshi costs $384 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 Qarshi. 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.