🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $900 in Achinsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,351 in Achinsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,802 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 Mai36% lower, Achinsk32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$8.01₽638
-74.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$24.96₽1,987
-25.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$3.48₽277
125.86%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$2.25₽179
-9.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$1.02₽81.3
-21.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.72₽57.0
-51.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$1.97₽157
8.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$1.49₽119
146.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.07₽85.3
61.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.67₽53.0
134.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.53₽122
-21.57%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$1.41₽112
39.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$8.89₽708
82.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$4.62₽367
-33.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$9.15₽728
18.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$1.90₽151
45.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.44₽115
-18.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.64₽131
4.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$1.29₽103
23.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$1.16₽92.0
19.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.83₽66.3
39.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.73₽58.0
-9.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.58₽46.49
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$3.14₽250
48.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$6.64₽528
167.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.03₽82.1
73.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.43₽114
133.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.49₽39.25
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$25.30₽2,014
-26.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$1.86₽148
-24.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.32₽25.74
318.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$2.02₽161
301.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$0.62₽49.33
98.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$42.4K₽3.4M
-49.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$51.5K₽4.1M
-57.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$105₽8,336
-31.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$5.31₽423
163.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$8.53₽679
110.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$35.06₽2,791
16.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$32.41₽2,580
-78.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$4.96₽395
15.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$140₽11.2K
119.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$7,007₽557.7K
109.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$65.0₽5,173
-14.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$60.2₽4,790
-56.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$51.5₽4,099
64.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$54.9₽4,372
29.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$441₽35.1K
-4.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$299₽23.8K
-19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$769₽61.2K
3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$501₽39.9K
1.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$2,035₽162.0K
-5.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$1,482₽118.0K
-1.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Achinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11
-54.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Achinsk: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $441 in Achinsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Achinsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $174, 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 Eating Out, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $1,349 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: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $441 in Achinsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $140 in Achinsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Achinsk?
Shoppers in Achinsk pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $800 enough for either Chiang Mai or Achinsk?
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.
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 6% 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