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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $884 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,373 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Abakan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Abakan 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$11.07 ₽935

-81.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$32.54 ₽2,749

-39.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.24 ₽527

-9.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.04 ₽257

-40.46%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.14 ₽95.9

-32.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.59 ₽50.2

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.74 ₽147

27.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.81 ₽237

34.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.10 ₽93.3

86.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.71 ₽59.9

112.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.39 ₽118

0.72%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.45 ₽123

55.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.20 ₽946

44.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.81 ₽491

-50.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.26 ₽952

-16.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.75 ₽148

53.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.80 ₽152

-39.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.78 ₽151

-8.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.65 ₽309

-60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.74 ₽62.5

72.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.55 ₽46.30

92.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.38 ₽116

-47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.77 ₽65.1

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.95 ₽249

43.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.18 ₽607

154.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.05 ₽88.7

55.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.02 ₽170

43.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.43 ₽36.09

104.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.27 ₽192

-48.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.33 ₽27.59

75.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$6.06 ₽512

-60.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.79 ₽66.4

83.54%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$39.4K ₽3.3M

-46.67%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.3K ₽2.6M

-15.65%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$78.1 ₽6,595

-18.45%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.74 ₽823

32.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$8.73 ₽738

135.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$35.13 ₽2,968

11.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$21.52 ₽1,818

-81.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$6.00 ₽507

9.67%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$330 ₽27.9K

137.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$7,255 ₽613.0K

102.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$42.23 ₽3,568

30.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$50.1 ₽4,229

-50.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$106 ₽8,952

-11.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$78.1 ₽6,597

-5.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$341 ₽28.8K

43.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$239 ₽20.2K

20.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$527 ₽44.6K

68.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$352 ₽29.8K

47.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,655 ₽224.3K

-25.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,730 ₽146.2K

-16.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$585 ₽49.5K

2.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-73.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Abakan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $341 in Abakan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Abakan. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Abakan – so Abakan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,326 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $884 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $330 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $884, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abakan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.