🙂A single person spends $566 per month in Qarshi vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $887 per month in Qarshi vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,209 per month in Qarshi vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Qarshi is about 40% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Qarshi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Qarshi59% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.16UZS 119.5K
$2.10฿69.3
383.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.16UZS 201.8K
$19.84฿656
-13.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.13UZS 107.4K
$5.79฿191
57.69%
Cappuccino
$1.04UZS 12.3K
$1.83฿60.4
-43.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53UZS 6,282
$0.78฿25.61
-32.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20UZS 2,296
$0.31฿10.37
-35.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.65UZS 7,676
$2.34฿77.2
-72.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.70฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23UZS 14.4K
$2.03฿67.1
-39.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40UZS 4,755
$1.60฿52.7
-75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16UZS 13.7K
$1.42฿46.75
-18.31%
Eggs
$1.51UZS 17.7K
$2.18฿71.9
-30.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.26UZS 120.7K
$15.91฿526
-35.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.32UZS 39.0K
$3.07฿102
8.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00UZS 129.4K
$9.87฿326
11.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.13UZS 13.3K
$2.63฿86.8
-57.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66UZS 19.5K
$1.10฿36.19
50.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90UZS 22.3K
$1.63฿53.8
16.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24UZS 14.5K
$1.53฿50.6
-18.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50UZS 5,862
$1.24฿41.13
-59.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.24UZS 2,799
$1.13฿37.37
-78.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.74฿24.38
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43UZS 5,084
$0.50฿16.48
-14.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42UZS 40.3K
$4.28฿141
-20.09%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿594
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70฿56.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24UZS 2,804
$0.94฿31.13
-74.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.93UZS 116.8K
$55.3฿1,827
-82.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.23฿40.76
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33UZS 3,826
$0.53฿17.66
-37.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40฿79.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21UZS 14.3K
$1.44฿47.55
-15.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿700.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.3K฿902.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.1UZS 801.2K
$64.9฿2,145
4.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.75UZS 44.1K
$13.35฿441
-71.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.70UZS 149.4K
$20.83฿688
-39.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.34UZS 392.1K
$40.42฿1,336
-17.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.71฿222
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$787฿26.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,515UZS 53.1M
$15.1K฿499.6K
-70.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.2฿1,858
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.95฿824
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$92.7฿3,063
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$75.1฿2,482
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271UZS 3.2M
$484฿16.0K
-44.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169UZS 2.0M
$287฿9,491
-41.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425UZS 5.0M
$910฿30.1K
-53.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$316UZS 3.7M
$531฿17.5K
-40.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qarshi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360UZS 4.2M
$605฿20.0K
-40.56%
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: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Qarshi versus $484 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 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 $17.00 in Qarshi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $242 – 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
Qarshi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Qarshi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 68% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Qarshi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $849 per month in Qarshi and $1,426 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Qarshi compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 457% 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 68% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Qarshi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qarshi, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Qarshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Qarshi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qarshi costs $566 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
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.