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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $268 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $514 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $759 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 218% more than Shahrisabz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shahrisabz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Shahrisabz 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.72 UZS 56.8K

-58.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$21.42 UZS 257.9K

-12.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$1.94 UZS 23.4K

308.25%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.64 UZS 19.8K

16.46%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.48 UZS 5,747

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.25 UZS 3,001

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.99 UZS 11.9K

123.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.98 UZS 23.8K

91.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.26 UZS 3,149

523.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.68 UZS 20.2K

-29.76%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.39 UZS 16.7K

44.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$1.94 UZS 23.4K

55.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.11 UZS 85.7K

51.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.68 UZS 8,135

283.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.76 UZS 21.2K

-30.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.42 UZS 5,090

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$0.98 UZS 11.8K

362.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.97 UZS 11.7K

88.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.04 UZS 24.5K

58.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.15 UZS 1,790

493.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.38 UZS 4,586

255.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.20 UZS 2,433

575.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.86 UZS 10.4K

47.67%

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

$46.36 UZS 558.2K

51.32%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.96 UZS 47.6K

247.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$9.23 UZS 111.2K

90.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$30.12 UZS 362.7K

38.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.97 UZS 84.0K

-17.07%

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

$11.84 UZS 142.5K

359.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$11.04 UZS 132.9K

136.78%

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

$211 UZS 2.5M

100.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$198 UZS 2.4M

316.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$150 UZS 1.8M

242.76%

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

$418 UZS 5.0M

51.89%

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 Shahrisabz: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $211 in Shahrisabz. 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 52% 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 Shahrisabz. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $74.0 in Shahrisabz – so Shahrisabz 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 Shahrisabz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 218% more than Shahrisabz, 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 $402 in Shahrisabz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $268 in Shahrisabz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 229% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $268 in Shahrisabz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shahrisabz costs $268 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 Shahrisabz. 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.