😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $884 in Achinsk versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,353 in Achinsk versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in Achinsk versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Achinsk is roughly 2% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Achinsk34% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.85₽569
$1.98฿64.3
296.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.73₽1,792
$18.80฿612
31.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.53₽256
$7.75฿252
-54.45%
Cappuccino
$2.23₽162
$1.92฿62.5
16.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01₽73.4
$0.79฿25.79
27.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68₽49.51
$0.36฿11.62
88.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03₽147
$2.21฿72.1
-8.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47₽107
$3.66฿119
-59.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13₽82.1
$1.65฿53.8
-31.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66₽47.97
$1.63฿53.2
-59.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53₽111
$1.19฿38.86
28.57%
Eggs
$1.47₽107
$2.00฿65.1
-26.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.81₽638
$15.98฿520
-44.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57₽331
$3.03฿98.5
50.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.18₽665
$10.86฿354
-15.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80₽131
$2.76฿90.0
-34.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37₽99.0
$1.18฿38.42
16.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57₽114
$1.64฿53.5
-4.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26₽91.6
$1.52฿49.51
-17.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22₽88.4
$1.38฿45.10
-11.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77₽55.6
$1.19฿38.84
-35.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₽48.53
$0.70฿22.86
-4.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62₽44.88
$0.56฿18.13
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11₽225
$4.58฿149
-32.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19₽521
$16.56฿539
-56.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₽74.6
$1.83฿59.5
-43.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43₽103
$3.20฿104
-55.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54₽38.78
$0.88฿28.56
-38.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.39₽1,839
$18.72฿610
35.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88₽136
$1.36฿44.16
38.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽23.89
$1.34฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.06₽149
$7.84฿256
-73.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62₽44.80
$1.23฿39.92
-49.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K₽3.2M
$21.6K฿704.3K
101.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.7K₽3.7M
$22.5K฿734.3K
129.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105₽7,577
$70.5฿2,298
48.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.47₽396
$13.68฿445
-60.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.42₽610
$17.45฿568
-51.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.64₽2,583
$41.33฿1,346
-13.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.63₽2,292
$6.96฿227
354.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93₽357
$5.77฿188
-14.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$140₽10.1K
$307฿10.0K
-54.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,925₽501.8K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-52.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5₽4,602
$55.8฿1,817
13.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8₽4,334
$26.21฿854
128.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.1₽3,702
$85.8฿2,793
-40.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.1₽3,990
$72.2฿2,353
-23.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451₽32.7K
$430฿14.0K
4.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₽22.1K
$239฿7,774
27.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776₽56.2K
$817฿26.6K
-5.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510₽36.9K
$511฿16.6K
-0.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,692₽195.1K
$1,983฿64.6K
35.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,830₽132.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
23.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
5
120.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Achinsk: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Achinsk and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Achinsk vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $241, with Achinsk cheaper for home cooking.
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
Achinsk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Achinsk?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,327 in Achinsk and $1,303 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Achinsk and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Achinsk versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $140 in Achinsk versus $307 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Achinsk and Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Achinsk pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $800 enough for either Achinsk or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Achinsk or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Achinsk, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Achinsk or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Achinsk and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Achinsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.