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 $395 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $647 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $899 in Qarshi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 115% 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 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.75 UZS 57.2K

-58.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$21.01 UZS 253.0K

-10.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.53 UZS 102.7K

-7.15%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.71 UZS 20.6K

11.70%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.45 UZS 5,454

86.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.27 UZS 3,255

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.62 UZS 7,432

256.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.60 UZS 19.3K

-26.25%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.39 UZS 16.8K

44.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.00 UZS 72.2K

79.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.48 UZS 5,808

443.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.68 UZS 20.3K

-27.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.71 UZS 20.5K

-0.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.23 UZS 2,765

473.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.43 UZS 5,178

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.57 UZS 30.9K

76.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.18 UZS 2,117

394.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$9.43 UZS 113.5K

105.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.32 UZS 3,889

321.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.19 UZS 50.5K

228.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$31.47 UZS 379.0K

32.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$212 UZS 2.6M

100.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$194 UZS 2.3M

22.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$505 UZS 6.1M

63.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$400 UZS 4.8M

28.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$346 UZS 4.2M

83.85%

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 Qarshi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $212 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 84% 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $55.0 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 115% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $593 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 106% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 341% 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 $395 in Qarshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qarshi costs $395 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.