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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $540 per month in Samarkand vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $889 per month in Samarkand vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,238 per month in Samarkand vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Samarkand is about 37% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Samarkand and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 60% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 UZS 54.5K

$1.96 ฿63.6

130.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.62 UZS 213.1K

$18.81 ฿611

-6.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.26 UZS 51.6K

$7.92 ฿258

-46.21%

Cappuccino

$1.76 UZS 21.3K

$1.91 ฿62.2

-7.85%

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

$0.39 UZS 4,743

$0.84 ฿27.25

-53.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UZS 2,994

$0.35 ฿11.44

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 UZS 15.4K

$2.21 ฿71.7

-42.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 UZS 23.6K

$3.80 ฿124

-48.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 UZS 12.1K

$1.64 ฿53.2

-39.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 UZS 4,898

$1.62 ฿52.8

-75.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 UZS 18.6K

$1.18 ฿38.40

30.51%

Eggs

$1.25 UZS 15.1K

$2.01 ฿65.4

-37.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 UZS 94.2K

$15.89 ฿517

-50.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 UZS 45.4K

$3.01 ฿98.0

24.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.43 UZS 101.9K

$10.77 ฿350

-21.73%

Apples (1kg)

$0.77 UZS 9,306

$2.61 ฿85.0

-70.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 UZS 21.2K

$1.22 ฿39.65

43.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 UZS 18.7K

$1.70 ฿55.4

-8.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 UZS 18.2K

$1.58 ฿51.2

-4.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 UZS 5,909

$1.32 ฿42.89

-62.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.15 UZS 1,844

$1.17 ฿38.01

-87.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.25 UZS 3,035

$0.67 ฿21.85

-62.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 UZS 4,559

$0.56 ฿18.21

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 UZS 18.6K

$4.53 ฿147

-66.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.24 UZS 39.2K

$18.20 ฿592

-82.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 UZS 11.0K

$1.83 ฿59.6

-50.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 UZS 24.2K

$3.23 ฿105

-38.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 UZS 2,771

$0.89 ฿28.83

-74.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.11 UZS 37.6K

$19.38 ฿630

-83.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 UZS 4,516

$1.35 ฿43.95

-72.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 UZS 2,215

$1.35 ฿43.79

-86.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 UZS 29.0K

$8.25 ฿268

-71.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 UZS 11.6K

$1.27 ฿41.40

-24.41%

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

$20.4K UZS 246.5M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

-3.67%

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

$24.7K UZS 299.3M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

10.03%

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

$39.20 UZS 474.2K

$70.2 ฿2,281

-44.12%

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

$3.63 UZS 44.0K

$13.77 ฿448

-73.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.76 UZS 142.3K

$17.60 ฿572

-33.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.63 UZS 443.1K

$41.57 ฿1,352

-11.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.23 UZS 75.3K

$6.60 ฿215

-5.61%

Cinema Ticket

$2.99 UZS 36.2K

$5.78 ฿188

-48.27%

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

$117 UZS 1.4M

$306 ฿9,953

-61.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,738 UZS 57.3M

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-68.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.04 UZS 242.5K

$54.4 ฿1,768

-63.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.87 UZS 470.1K

$26.14 ฿850

48.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 UZS 866.8K

$84.5 ฿2,748

-15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 UZS 673.6K

$69.4 ฿2,257

-19.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 UZS 2.8M

$424 ฿13.8K

-46.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 UZS 1.6M

$238 ฿7,743

-44.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 UZS 5.2M

$825 ฿26.8K

-47.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 UZS 3.6M

$515 ฿16.7K

-41.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,241 UZS 15.0M

$2,049 ฿66.6K

-39.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$530 UZS 6.4M

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-65.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 UZS 3.6M

$635 ฿20.6K

-53.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.07

341.40%

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

Last update for Samarkand: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Samarkand versus $424 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 114% 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 $18.00 in Samarkand versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $143 vs $243 – making Samarkand 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

Samarkand vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 58% 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 $810 per month in Samarkand and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. 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 $117 per month in Samarkand and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $540 in Samarkand and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samarkand costs $540 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 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.