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: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,100 in Achinsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $1,733 in Achinsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,367 in Achinsk.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 15% less than in Achinsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Achinsk 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.3
$11.58 ₽974
-82.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿653
$40.26 ₽3,387
-51.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$5.79 ₽487
-2.07%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.1
$2.77 ₽233
-34.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.58
$1.07 ₽89.8
-28.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.49
$0.56 ₽47.49
-37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$2.40 ₽202
-7.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$3.44 ₽289
10.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.2
$1.13 ₽94.7
81.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$0.60 ₽50.4
151.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.57
$1.67 ₽140
-16.17%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.2
$1.49 ₽125
51.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿539
$11.46 ₽964
41.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.4
$6.43 ₽541
-54.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$12.17 ₽1,024
-22.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.2
$1.89 ₽159
41.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.28
$1.96 ₽165
-44.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$1.35 ₽113
20.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.61
$4.95 ₽416
-70.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.54
$0.57 ₽47.85
124.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.21
$0.51 ₽42.76
107.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.88
$0.84 ₽70.7
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.51
$0.81 ₽68.2
-34.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$4.70 ₽396
-10.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿609
$8.12 ₽683
125.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.3
$1.46 ₽123
11.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.6
$2.31 ₽195
25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.24
$0.49 ₽40.92
79.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,790
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.04
$2.69 ₽227
-56.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.25
$0.15 ₽12.45
286.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.4
$3.51 ₽295
-31.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.28
$0.76 ₽64.1
90.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿699.5K
$28.5K ₽2.4M
-26.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿879.7K
$26.5K ₽2.2M
-0.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,119
$107 ₽8,962
-40.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$5.09 ₽428
153.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿683
$8.16 ₽687
151.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,299
$33.84 ₽2,847
15.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
$22.82 ₽1,920
-82.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$5.94 ₽500
10.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$366 ₽30.8K
114.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿488.4K
$6,209 ₽522.4K
136.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,835
$57.4 ₽4,825
-3.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿824
$46.20 ₽3,887
-46.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,133
$218 ₽18.4K
-56.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,462
$146 ₽12.3K
-49.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$461 ₽38.8K
6.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,594
$303 ₽25.5K
-4.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.7K
$781 ₽65.7K
14.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$531 ₽44.7K
-1.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.7K
$2,294 ₽193.0K
-13.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.1K
$1,457 ₽122.5K
-0.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
22.37
-75.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Achinsk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $461 in Achinsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $40.00 in Achinsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $228, 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
Is Achinsk cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $1,650 in Achinsk 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.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Achinsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $461 in Achinsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Achinsk?
Shoppers in Achinsk pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Achinsk?
All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,100 in Achinsk – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Achinsk?
At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,100 in Achinsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Achinsk. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Achinsk more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Achinsk?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Achinsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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