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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $632 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,023 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,413 in Samarkand, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Samarkand are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Samarkand 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$6.91 UZS 81.2K

-69.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$19.86 UZS 233.6K

-0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.78 UZS 56.2K

21.13%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.47 UZS 29.1K

-25.91%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.69 UZS 8,116

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.19 UZS 2,217

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.50 UZS 17.6K

56.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.23 UZS 26.2K

65.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.08 UZS 12.8K

87.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.33 UZS 3,834

384.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.63 UZS 19.2K

-12.88%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.39 UZS 16.3K

56.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.28 UZS 97.4K

92.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.38 UZS 51.5K

-29.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.63 UZS 125.0K

-7.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$0.81 UZS 9,513

224.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.83 UZS 21.5K

-39.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.75 UZS 20.6K

-6.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.73 UZS 20.3K

-11.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.49 UZS 5,748

153.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.17 UZS 2,013

564.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.24 UZS 2,814

208.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.40 UZS 4,720

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.67 UZS 19.7K

156.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$3.32 UZS 39.0K

441.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.99 UZS 11.7K

71.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.14 UZS 25.1K

35.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.26 UZS 3,066

261.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$3.32 UZS 39.1K

1565.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.37 UZS 4,311

232.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.32 UZS 3,804

65.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$3.40 UZS 39.9K

-29.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.10 UZS 12.9K

30.91%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$16.9K UZS 198.4M

25.61%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$24.2K UZS 284.8M

12.74%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$43.06 UZS 506.4K

50.79%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.86 UZS 45.4K

245.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$13.68 UZS 160.9K

52.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$39.94 UZS 469.7K

1.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.94 UZS 81.6K

-43.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.22 UZS 37.8K

108.39%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$331 UZS 3.9M

137.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,569 UZS 89.0M

99.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$20.85 UZS 245.2K

169.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$43.23 UZS 508.4K

-42.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$76.5 UZS 899.8K

21.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$59.5 UZS 699.3K

26.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$250 UZS 2.9M

93.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$166 UZS 2.0M

73.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$469 UZS 5.5M

93.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$319 UZS 3.8M

66.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,263 UZS 14.9M

56.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$558 UZS 6.6M

160.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$311 UZS 3.7M

94.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

23.31

-76.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Samarkand. 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 95% 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 $20.00 in Samarkand. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $159 in Samarkand – so Samarkand 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 Samarkand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Samarkand, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $948 in Samarkand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $331 in Samarkand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Samarkand 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. Samarkand costs $632 versus $950 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 Samarkand. 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.