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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $982 in Arzamas versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Arzamas versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,021 in Arzamas versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Arzamas is roughly 15% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arzamas 27% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 ₽705

$1.96 ฿64.0

378.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.81 ₽2,840

$18.81 ฿615

101.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ₽435

$7.92 ฿259

-26.89%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₽173

$1.91 ฿62.6

20.42%

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

$1.08 ₽80.9

$0.84 ฿27.41

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₽36.03

$0.35 ฿11.51

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₽107

$2.21 ฿72.1

-35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₽187

$3.80 ฿124

-34.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽82.4

$1.64 ฿53.5

-32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ₽52.3

$1.62 ฿53.1

-56.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 ₽103

$1.18 ฿38.62

16.10%

Eggs

$1.71 ₽129

$2.01 ฿65.8

-14.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 ₽828

$15.89 ฿520

-30.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 ₽355

$3.01 ฿98.5

56.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ₽677

$10.77 ฿352

-16.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ₽136

$2.61 ฿85.5

-30.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₽140

$1.22 ฿39.88

52.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₽144

$1.70 ฿55.7

12.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 ₽210

$1.58 ฿51.5

77.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₽64.5

$1.32 ฿43.14

-34.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽49.66

$1.17 ฿38.23

-43.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.42 ₽106

$0.67 ฿21.98

111.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽49.35

$0.56 ฿18.32

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₽217

$4.53 ฿148

-36.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 ₽495

$18.20 ฿595

-63.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₽71.5

$1.83 ฿60.0

-48.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₽146

$3.23 ฿106

-39.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₽36.83

$0.89 ฿29.00

-44.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽139

$1.35 ฿44.20

37.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ₽26.56

$1.35 ฿44.05

-74.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 ₽490

$8.25 ฿270

-20.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽57.2

$1.27 ฿41.64

-40.16%

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

$34.5K ₽2.6M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

63.28%

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

$35.2K ₽2.6M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

56.34%

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

$108 ₽8,077

$70.2 ฿2,294

53.30%

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

$5.83 ₽438

$13.77 ฿450

-57.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.60 ₽571

$17.60 ฿575

-56.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.09 ₽2,636

$41.57 ฿1,360

-15.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₽390

$5.78 ฿189

-10.21%

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

$322 ₽24.2K

$306 ฿10.0K

5.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,020 ₽527.3K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-52.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 ₽5,208

$54.4 ฿1,778

27.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.57 ₽3,273

$26.14 ฿855

66.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ₽8,485

$84.5 ฿2,764

33.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₽7,971

$69.4 ฿2,270

52.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₽33.9K

$424 ฿13.9K

6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₽22.7K

$238 ฿7,788

27.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₽58.1K

$825 ฿27.0K

-6.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$506 ₽38.0K

$515 ฿16.8K

-1.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,156 ₽162.0K

$2,049 ฿67.0K

5.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,336 ₽100.4K

$1,523 ฿49.8K

-12.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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 Arzamas: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Arzamas and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Arzamas vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $243, with Arzamas 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

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

Arzamas and Chiang Mai differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($982 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,472 in Arzamas and $1,278 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Arzamas versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Arzamas pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $982 per month in Arzamas versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Arzamas 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Arzamas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.