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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $955 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,415 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,875 in Abakan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Abakan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Abakan 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$9.62 ₽697

-79.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$19.92 ₽1,444

-5.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.24 ₽452

24.20%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.91 ₽211

-34.02%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.23 ₽89.0

-35.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.39 ₽28.13

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.22 ₽88.5

81.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.30 ₽94.3

181.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.23 ₽88.9

34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.66 ₽47.50

146.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.44 ₽104

-17.36%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.86 ₽135

7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.67 ₽773

49.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.97 ₽360

-39.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.05 ₽656

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.79 ₽130

54.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.21 ₽160

-46.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.93 ₽140

-15.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.66 ₽193

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.14 ₽82.7

21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.72 ₽51.9

65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.42 ₽103

-50.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.71 ₽51.6

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.88 ₽209

59.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.98 ₽578

107.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.99 ₽72.1

84.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.95 ₽141

64.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.37 ₽26.85

137.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.30 ₽94.2

4.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.35 ₽25.60

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.18 ₽448

26.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.72 ₽51.9

70.83%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$34.5K ₽2.5M

-37.34%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.9K ₽2.5M

-35.41%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$108 ₽7,833

-34.75%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.92 ₽429

131.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.98 ₽579

118.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$34.99 ₽2,536

18.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.09 ₽369

13.36%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$328 ₽23.8K

-6.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,075 ₽512.6K

106.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$50.4 ₽3,648

10.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$51.0 ₽3,698

-48.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$100 ₽7,248

-14.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$103 ₽7,473

-29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$439 ₽31.8K

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$304 ₽22.1K

-21.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$755 ₽54.7K

8.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$501 ₽36.3K

1.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,536 ₽183.8K

-21.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,687 ₽122.3K

-12.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$652 ₽47.2K

-5.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

-67.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Abakan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $439 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 5% higher in Abakan, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Abakan. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $203 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 – Abakan is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,433 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $955 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $328 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $955 in Abakan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abakan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.