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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $898 in Achinsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,366 in Achinsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,834 in Achinsk.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 5% less than in Achinsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Achinsk 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$7.98 ₽599

-75.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$24.60 ₽1,848

-23.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.51 ₽264

125.64%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.18 ₽164

-12.39%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.03 ₽77.2

-18.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.69 ₽51.5

-49.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.01 ₽151

9.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.41 ₽106

169.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.08 ₽81.1

51.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.71 ₽53.4

128.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.51 ₽113

-21.85%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.41 ₽106

42.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.78 ₽659

80.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.70 ₽353

-35.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.77 ₽659

22.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.82 ₽137

43.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.38 ₽104

-11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.62 ₽122

4.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.34 ₽101

17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.16 ₽87.4

13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.84 ₽63.0

39.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.67 ₽50.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.57 ₽43.15

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.97 ₽223

52.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.07 ₽456

199.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.09 ₽81.9

67.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.36 ₽102

137.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.52 ₽39.23

71.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$25.19 ₽1,892

-23.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.88 ₽142

-28.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.33 ₽24.70

309.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.05 ₽154

302.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.58 ₽43.20

118.97%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$43.0K ₽3.2M

-50.79%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$50.4K ₽3.8M

-55.41%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$106 ₽7,980

-33.98%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.31 ₽399

159.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$8.43 ₽633

108.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$35.08 ₽2,635

18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$31.98 ₽2,402

-79.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.80 ₽360

20.42%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$143 ₽10.7K

114.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,026 ₽527.8K

110.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$63.5 ₽4,771

-14.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$58.6 ₽4,398

-55.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$51.6 ₽3,878

63.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$55.2 ₽4,142

25.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$436 ₽32.8K

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$307 ₽23.1K

-22.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$776 ₽58.3K

6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$516 ₽38.8K

-0.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,099 ₽157.7K

-2.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,484 ₽111.5K

2.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$490 ₽36.8K

29.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-54.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Achinsk: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $436 in Achinsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Achinsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $171, with Achinsk cheaper for home cooking.

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 Achinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $436 in Achinsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Chiang Mai versus $143 in Achinsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Achinsk pay roughly 42% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Achinsk, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Achinsk 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 5% less than in Achinsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.