😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,100 in Achinsk versus $932 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,733 in Achinsk versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,367 in Achinsk versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Achinsk is roughly 18% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Achinsk20% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58₽979
$2.08฿69.2
456.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.26₽3,402
$19.61฿652
105.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79₽489
$5.67฿189
2.12%
Cappuccino
$2.77₽234
$1.81฿60.0
53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07₽90.2
$0.77฿25.55
38.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56₽47.70
$0.35฿11.48
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40₽203
$2.21฿73.6
8.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44₽291
$3.79฿126
-9.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13₽95.1
$2.05฿68.1
-44.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₽50.6
$1.51฿50.4
-60.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67₽141
$1.40฿46.51
19.29%
Eggs
$1.49₽126
$2.26฿75.1
-34.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46₽968
$16.19฿538
-29.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43₽543
$2.90฿96.3
121.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.17₽1,028
$9.42฿313
29.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89₽160
$2.68฿89.1
-29.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96₽165
$1.09฿36.23
79.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35₽114
$1.62฿53.8
-16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.95₽418
$1.46฿48.55
239.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57₽48.06
$1.28฿42.48
-55.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51₽42.95
$1.06฿35.17
-51.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84₽71.0
$0.72฿23.85
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₽68.5
$0.53฿17.49
52.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.70₽398
$4.23฿141
11.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12₽686
$18.29฿608
-55.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46₽123
$1.63฿54.2
-10.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₽195
$2.90฿96.5
-20.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽41.10
$0.88฿29.20
-44.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,788
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69₽228
$1.17฿38.99
129.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.15₽12.51
$0.58฿19.22
-74.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.51₽296
$2.39฿79.3
46.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽64.3
$1.45฿48.22
-47.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K₽2.4M
$21.0K฿698.6K
35.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K₽2.2M
$26.4K฿878.6K
0.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107₽9,002
$63.7฿2,116
67.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.09₽430
$12.89฿429
-60.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.16₽690
$20.52฿682
-60.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.84₽2,860
$39.02฿1,297
-13.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.82₽1,928
$3.92฿130
482.14%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94₽502
$6.58฿219
-9.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$366₽30.9K
$784฿26.1K
-53.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,209₽524.7K
$14.7K฿487.9K
-57.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4₽4,847
$55.1฿1,833
4.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20₽3,904
$24.74฿823
86.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$218₽18.4K
$94.1฿3,130
131.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146₽12.3K
$74.0฿2,459
97.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$461₽39.0K
$490฿16.3K
-5.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$303₽25.6K
$288฿9,582
5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781₽66.0K
$891฿29.6K
-12.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531₽44.9K
$521฿17.3K
1.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,294₽193.9K
$1,974฿65.6K
16.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,457₽123.1K
$1,444฿48.0K
0.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Achinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.37
5.57
301.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Achinsk: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $461 in Achinsk and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Achinsk vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 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 Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,650 in Achinsk and $1,398 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: $461 in Achinsk versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Achinsk and in Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Achinsk pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Achinsk and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,100 per month in Achinsk versus $932 in Chiang Mai – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Achinsk or in Chiang Mai?
At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,100 in Achinsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Achinsk. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 18% less than in Achinsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.