😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,068 in Arkhangelsk versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,606 in Arkhangelsk versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Arkhangelsk versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Arkhangelsk is roughly 23% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Arkhangelsk20% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.37₽691
$1.94฿63.6
382.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.20₽2,745
$18.64฿609
99.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42₽474
$7.82฿256
-17.90%
Cappuccino
$2.07₽153
$1.95฿63.9
6.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16₽85.9
$0.85฿27.80
36.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₽34.91
$0.35฿11.60
34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.10₽155
$2.13฿69.7
-1.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30₽95.6
$3.73฿122
-65.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11₽81.9
$1.71฿56.0
-35.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77₽56.6
$1.63฿53.3
-52.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02₽149
$1.14฿37.18
77.19%
Eggs
$1.63₽120
$1.93฿63.2
-15.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28₽832
$16.21฿530
-30.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63₽415
$3.12฿102
80.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.33₽762
$10.90฿356
-5.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63₽120
$2.75฿90.1
-40.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74₽128
$1.21฿39.56
43.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28₽169
$1.62฿53.0
40.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07₽153
$1.59฿51.9
30.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72₽53.1
$1.40฿45.75
-48.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₽47.59
$1.17฿38.20
-45.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₽67.7
$0.66฿21.62
39.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55₽40.34
$0.53฿17.24
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20₽236
$4.69฿153
-31.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.66₽713
$18.66฿610
-48.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12₽82.8
$1.80฿58.8
-37.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66₽123
$3.23฿106
-48.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽36.34
$0.90฿29.28
-45.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.27₽167
$1.41฿45.96
60.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41₽104
$1.29฿42.16
9.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.31₽465
$7.84฿256
-19.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽55.1
$1.27฿41.62
-40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K₽2.6M
$21.3K฿695.5K
63.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K₽2.6M
$22.2K฿726.1K
57.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153₽11.3K
$69.1฿2,258
120.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.27₽537
$14.08฿460
-48.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.75₽720
$18.00฿588
-45.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.82₽2,348
$41.06฿1,342
-22.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.47₽1,880
$6.96฿227
265.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65₽343
$5.92฿193
-21.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$323₽23.8K
$299฿9,775
7.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,958₽513.4K
$15.0K฿488.8K
-53.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129₽9,527
$54.7฿1,788
136.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.34₽2,755
$26.77฿875
39.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.5₽4,758
$85.0฿2,778
-24.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.9₽5,673
$70.6฿2,308
8.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450₽33.2K
$428฿14.0K
5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381₽28.1K
$237฿7,759
60.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632₽46.6K
$801฿26.2K
-21.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$569₽42.0K
$515฿16.9K
10.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,781₽131.4K
$1,975฿64.5K
-9.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,332₽98.3K
$1,475฿48.2K
-9.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arkhangelsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$585₽43.1K
$617฿20.2K
-5.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.75
5
215.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arkhangelsk: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Arkhangelsk and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Arkhangelsk vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $246, with Arkhangelsk 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
Arkhangelsk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arkhangelsk and Chiang Mai?
Arkhangelsk and Chiang Mai differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,068 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Chiang Mai earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Arkhangelsk and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $450 in Arkhangelsk versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arkhangelsk and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $323 in Arkhangelsk versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $37.00 in Arkhangelsk. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,068 in Arkhangelsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Arkhangelsk. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arkhangelsk and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arkhangelsk or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arkhangelsk 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.
Where should expats move: Arkhangelsk or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Arkhangelsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Arkhangelsk vs other spots: cost of living compared