😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $989 in Anapa versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,567 in Anapa versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,146 in Anapa versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Anapa is roughly 16% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Anapa26% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98₽750
$1.96฿64.0
409.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1₽3,986
$18.81฿615
182.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.37₽628
$7.92฿259
5.68%
Cappuccino
$3.47₽261
$1.91฿62.6
81.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35₽101
$0.84฿27.41
60.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94₽70.4
$0.35฿11.51
168.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₽102
$2.21฿72.1
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06₽380
$3.80฿124
33.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25₽93.7
$1.64฿53.5
-23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66₽49.28
$1.62฿53.1
-59.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79₽59.5
$1.18฿38.62
-33.05%
Eggs
$1.98₽148
$2.01฿65.8
-1.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.74₽1,032
$15.89฿520
-13.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.04₽378
$3.01฿98.5
67.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.65₽650
$10.77฿352
-19.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81₽136
$2.61฿85.5
-30.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₽121
$1.22฿39.88
31.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44₽183
$1.70฿55.7
43.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71₽204
$1.58฿51.5
71.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₽65.4
$1.32฿43.14
-34.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73₽54.7
$1.17฿38.23
-37.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₽106
$0.67฿21.98
108.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₽43.87
$0.56฿18.32
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.21₽241
$4.53฿148
-29.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22₽618
$18.20฿595
-54.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₽71.9
$1.83฿60.0
-47.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94₽146
$3.23฿106
-39.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₽37.49
$0.89฿29.00
-43.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.49₽187
$1.35฿44.20
84.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₽18.65
$1.35฿44.05
-81.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.79₽285
$8.25฿270
-54.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74₽55.7
$1.27฿41.64
-41.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K₽2.6M
$21.2K฿691.8K
61.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K₽1.8M
$22.5K฿735.3K
8.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.9₽4,276
$70.2฿2,294
-18.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.44₽484
$13.77฿450
-53.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.64₽649
$17.60฿575
-50.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.40₽2,659
$41.57฿1,360
-14.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.45₽485
$5.78฿189
11.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449₽33.7K
$306฿10.0K
46.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,071₽531.1K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-52.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5₽5,674
$54.4฿1,778
38.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.11₽2,487
$26.14฿855
26.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131₽9,847
$84.5฿2,764
55.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109₽8,178
$69.4฿2,270
56.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438₽32.9K
$424฿13.9K
3.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$308₽23.1K
$238฿7,788
29.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765₽57.5K
$825฿27.0K
-7.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503₽37.8K
$515฿16.8K
-2.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,337₽175.5K
$2,049฿67.0K
14.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,717₽129.0K
$1,523฿49.8K
12.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anapa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667₽50.1K
$635฿20.8K
4.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
5
80.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anapa: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Anapa and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Anapa pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Anapa vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $243, with Anapa 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
Anapa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Anapa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Anapa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Anapa or Chiang Mai?
Anapa pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Anapa vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Anapa versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Anapa or Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Anapa pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Anapa compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $989 per month in Anapa versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Anapa or Chiang Mai?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $989 in Anapa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Anapa. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Anapa or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Anapa compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Anapa 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Anapa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.