Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Qarshi and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Qarshi: $568 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Qarshi
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$568
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Qarshi and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Qarshi and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $568 per month in Qarshi vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qarshi $568
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $879 per month in Qarshi vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qarshi $879
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,190 per month in Qarshi vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qarshi $1,190
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Qarshi is about 39% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Qarshi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Qarshi 58% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15 UZS 121.4K
$2.24 ฿75.7
353.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55 UZS 198.0K
$19.00 ฿642
-12.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 UZS 111.5K
$5.55 ฿188
67.93%
Cappuccino
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
$1.67 ฿56.6
-39.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 UZS 5,819
$0.64 ฿21.56
-23.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 UZS 2,324
$0.31 ฿10.32
-38.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.69 UZS 8,268
$2.36 ฿79.6
-70.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 UZS 14.6K
$1.95 ฿65.8
-37.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 UZS 5,268
$1.44 ฿48.51
-69.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 UZS 14.3K
$1.33 ฿45.07
-10.53%
Eggs
$1.49 UZS 17.8K
$2.28 ฿77.1
-34.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.84 UZS 117.7K
$16.45 ฿556
-40.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.36 UZS 40.2K
$2.78 ฿94.0
20.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.71 UZS 128.1K
$9.31 ฿314
15.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 UZS 13.2K
$2.35 ฿79.5
-53.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 UZS 19.4K
$0.97 ฿32.82
67.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 UZS 22.4K
$1.60 ฿53.9
16.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 UZS 14.7K
$1.50 ฿50.7
-18.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 UZS 5,398
$1.28 ฿43.15
-64.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.26 UZS 3,120
$1.10 ฿37.22
-76.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.71 ฿23.84
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 UZS 5,199
$0.49 ฿16.38
-12.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 UZS 40.9K
$4.14 ฿140
-17.39%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.52 ฿592
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.61 ฿54.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 ฿94.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 UZS 2,842
$0.87 ฿29.33
-72.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.10 UZS 120.8K
$54.1 ฿1,827
-81.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.16 ฿39.08
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 UZS 4,113
$0.53 ฿17.82
-35.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 UZS 15.8K
$1.45 ฿48.93
-8.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K ฿711.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.1 UZS 814.5K
$62.2 ฿2,100
9.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.85 UZS 46.1K
$12.17 ฿411
-68.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.59 UZS 150.6K
$20.12 ฿680
-37.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.03 UZS 395.0K
$37.31 ฿1,260
-11.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.49 ฿219
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$736 ฿24.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,595 UZS 55.0M
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-68.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.4 ฿1,802
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.64 ฿832
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.5 ฿3,089
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.9 ฿2,429
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 UZS 3.2M
$482 ฿16.3K
-44.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 UZS 2.0M
$309 ฿10.4K
-45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 UZS 5.1M
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-57.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 UZS 3.8M
$633 ฿21.4K
-50.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$358 UZS 4.3M
$590 ฿19.9K
-39.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Qarshi: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$309
Groceries & Markets
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$234
Clothing & Footwear
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$78
Getting Around
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Qarshi
–
Chiang Mai
$50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Qarshi versus $482 in Chiang Mai. 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 65% 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 $17 in Qarshi versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $142 vs $234 – making Qarshi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇿 Qarshi
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
12:04 12:04 PM
14:04 2:04 PM
2 h ahead of Qarshi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
289,600
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to UZS – Uzbekistani Som Converter

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 11,960 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.36 USD). 1 EUR = 13,311 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.51 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Qarshi Chiang Mai 3,890 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Qarshi
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Qarshi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Qarshi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Qarshi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Qarshi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $851 per month in Qarshi and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Qarshi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qarshi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $270 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How expensive is transport in Qarshi compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 81% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Qarshi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 65% 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Qarshi or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $568 in Qarshi to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Qarshi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Qarshi or to Chiang Mai?
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.

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