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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $567 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,208 in Qarshi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Qarshi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Qarshi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Qarshi 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.02 UZS 117.9K

-79.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$16.70 UZS 196.4K

17.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.51 UZS 111.9K

-40.38%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.03 UZS 12.2K

75.73%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.53 UZS 6,177

45.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.17 UZS 1,979

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.66 UZS 7,779

234.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.28 UZS 15.0K

60.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.44 UZS 5,136

243.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.17 UZS 13.7K

19.66%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.55 UZS 18.3K

45.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.08 UZS 118.6K

60.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.44 UZS 40.4K

-15.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.98 UZS 129.2K

-14.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.07 UZS 12.6K

150.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.66 UZS 19.5K

-34.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.84 UZS 21.7K

-11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.24 UZS 14.6K

17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.46 UZS 5,422

178.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.26 UZS 3,063

307.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.44 UZS 5,169

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.36 UZS 39.5K

25.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.24 UZS 2,796

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$9.93 UZS 116.8K

441.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.35 UZS 4,124

65.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.17 UZS 13.7K

23.93%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$67.0 UZS 787.7K

-4.97%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.79 UZS 44.6K

240.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.61 UZS 148.3K

62.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$34.12 UZS 401.2K

14.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$4,551 UZS 53.5M

222.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$277 UZS 3.3M

76.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$171 UZS 2.0M

68.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$417 UZS 4.9M

113.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$314 UZS 3.7M

66.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$359 UZS 4.2M

67.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $277 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 68% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Qarshi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $144 – making Qarshi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 64% more than Qarshi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $851 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 441% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 67% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qarshi, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Qarshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qarshi costs $567 versus $932 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.