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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $394 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $660 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $926 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 ฿64.1

$4.80 UZS 58.0K

-59.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$21.29 UZS 257.2K

-13.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$8.86 UZS 107.1K

-11.17%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.65 UZS 19.9K

18.18%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.45 UZS 5,424

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.27 UZS 3,267

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$0.64 UZS 7,790

234.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.67 UZS 20.2K

-28.74%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.43 UZS 17.3K

39.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$5.92 UZS 71.5K

83.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$0.49 UZS 5,916

440.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.75 UZS 21.1K

-30.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$1.79 UZS 21.6K

-7.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.23 UZS 2,774

478.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.43 UZS 5,186

32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$2.54 UZS 30.7K

84.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.14 UZS 1,748

550.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$9.51 UZS 114.9K

97.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$0.32 UZS 3,905

318.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

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

$14.05 ฿460

$4.04 UZS 48.8K

247.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$31.61 UZS 381.9K

30.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

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

$303 ฿9,928

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$214 UZS 2.6M

100.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$200 UZS 2.4M

19.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$518 UZS 6.3M

56.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$395 UZS 4.8M

28.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$346 UZS 4.2M

80.13%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 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 80% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Qarshi. Groceries tell a different story – $242 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 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $591 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 332% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $394 in Qarshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qarshi costs $394 versus $848 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.