Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abovyan

For one person, living is cheaper in Abovyan: $817 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Abovyan
🇦🇲 Armenia
$817
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Abovyan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Abovyan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $817 in Abovyan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Abovyan $817

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,343 in Abovyan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Abovyan $1,343

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,870 in Abovyan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Abovyan $1,870

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Abovyan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Abovyan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Abovyan 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$11.14 ֏4,032
-79.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$51.5 ֏18.6K
-61.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$10.37 ֏3,753
-45.90%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.79 ֏1,371
-56.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$1.15 ֏418
-39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$0.72 ֏261
-56.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$2.69 ֏975
-10.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$3.55 ֏1,284
4.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.62 ֏587
20.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$0.97 ֏350
45.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$2.11 ֏764
-37.91%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$2.80 ֏1,013
-22.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$8.35 ֏3,022
99.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$7.48 ֏2,706
-63.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$13.94 ֏5,043
-34.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$1.47 ֏530
62.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.75 ֏633
-41.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.98 ֏715
-17.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$2.48 ֏899
-39.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.67 ֏243
92.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$0.68 ֏246
63.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$0.96 ֏348
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.71 ֏259
-25.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$2.82 ֏1,022
52.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$9.58 ֏3,467
87.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$1.49 ֏539
6.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$2.01 ֏726
41.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$0.57 ֏207
50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$1.35 ֏489
-10.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$0.59 ֏215
-3.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$12.91 ֏4,670
-81.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.48 ֏535
-2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$34.7K ֏12.6M
-40.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$33.8K ֏12.2M
-20.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$124 ֏44.9K
-49.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$9.03 ֏3,269
34.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$24.50 ֏8,866
-18.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$8.37 ֏3,028
-22.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$365 ֏132.1K
117.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$10.2K ֏3.7M
44.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$104 ֏37.6K
-48.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$56.8 ֏20.5K
-56.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$138 ֏49.8K
-34.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$165 ֏59.6K
-56.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Abovyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
$984 ֏356.0K
-39.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.54
-58.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Abovyan: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Abovyan
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Abovyan
$234 0.5% $1.2
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Abovyan
$208 92.7% $100
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Abovyan
$157 66.9% $63
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Abovyan
$194 147% $115
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Abovyan
$6.6 * 89.1% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Abovyan
$17 * 66.6% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 66% higher in Abovyan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Abovyan. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Abovyan – so Abovyan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇦🇲 Abovyan
🕒 Local time
04:18 4:18 AM
01:18 1:18 AM
3 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
60,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Armenian Dram exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 362 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.76 USD). 1 EUR = 407 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.46 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Abovyan 5,670 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Abovyan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Abovyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abovyan cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,226 in Abovyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Abovyan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $52.0 in Abovyan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Abovyan?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Abovyan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abovyan, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Abovyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Abovyan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abovyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Abovyan?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abovyan. 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.

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