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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $979 per month in Abakan vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,424 per month in Abakan vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,868 per month in Abakan vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Abakan costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Abakan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Abakan 27% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.70 ₽728

$1.96 ฿63.6

394.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.33 ₽1,452

$18.81 ฿611

2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₽483

$7.92 ฿258

-18.94%

Cappuccino

$2.82 ₽212

$1.91 ฿62.2

47.64%

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

$1.22 ₽91.7

$0.84 ฿27.25

45.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₽26.75

$0.35 ฿11.44

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 ₽92.8

$2.21 ฿71.7

-43.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₽94.6

$3.80 ฿124

-66.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 ₽92.8

$1.64 ฿53.2

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ₽52.9

$1.62 ฿52.8

-56.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ₽104

$1.18 ฿38.40

17.80%

Eggs

$1.81 ₽136

$2.01 ฿65.4

-9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 ₽818

$15.89 ฿517

-31.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 ₽371

$3.01 ฿98.0

64.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.73 ₽656

$10.77 ฿350

-18.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 ₽130

$2.61 ฿85.0

-33.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₽165

$1.22 ฿39.65

80.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₽144

$1.70 ฿55.4

12.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 ₽201

$1.58 ฿51.2

69.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ₽82.7

$1.32 ฿42.89

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 ₽53.8

$1.17 ฿38.01

-38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 ₽106

$0.67 ฿21.85

110.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽49.58

$0.56 ฿18.21

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₽216

$4.53 ฿147

-36.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 ₽568

$18.20 ฿592

-58.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₽72.1

$1.83 ฿59.6

-47.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₽146

$3.23 ฿105

-39.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₽27.95

$0.89 ฿28.83

-58.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₽98.2

$1.35 ฿43.95

-2.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₽24.76

$1.35 ฿43.79

-75.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 ₽486

$8.25 ฿268

-21.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽58.9

$1.27 ฿41.40

-38.58%

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

$34.6K ₽2.6M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

63.57%

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

$35.2K ₽2.6M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

56.37%

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

$111 ₽8,344

$70.2 ฿2,281

58.33%

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

$5.83 ₽438

$13.77 ฿448

-57.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.02 ₽603

$17.60 ฿572

-54.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.15 ₽2,641

$41.57 ฿1,352

-15.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 ₽371

$5.78 ฿188

-14.53%

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

$322 ₽24.2K

$306 ฿9,953

5.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,925 ₽520.3K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-53.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 ₽3,734

$54.4 ฿1,768

-8.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₽3,839

$26.14 ฿850

95.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₽7,715

$84.5 ฿2,748

21.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 ₽7,510

$69.4 ฿2,257

43.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₽33.0K

$424 ฿13.8K

3.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽22.7K

$238 ฿7,743

26.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₽56.2K

$825 ฿26.8K

-9.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₽38.4K

$515 ฿16.7K

-0.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 ₽158.7K

$2,049 ฿66.6K

3.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ₽113.1K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-1.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 ₽46.7K

$635 ฿20.6K

-2.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

206.60%

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

Last update for Abakan: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Abakan 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 2% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Abakan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $243 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Abakan is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,469 per month in Abakan 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 Chiang Mai, 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 $979 in Abakan and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Abakan and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Abakan at $979. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abakan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abakan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.