ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $828 in Almetyevsk.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,293 in Almetyevsk.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,757 in Almetyevsk.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai is roughly 3% more expensive than Almetyevsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai36% lower, Almetyevsk38% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$4.99â―375
-60.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$50.0â―3,757
-62.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$5.79â―435
36.79%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.24â―93.1
54.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$1.01â―75.9
-16.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.64â―48.41
-45.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$1.13â―84.8
95.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$2.49â―187
52.61%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$0.88â―66.1
86.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.60â―45.00
170.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$1.24â―93.1
-4.84%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$1.33â―100
51.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$5.60â―420
183.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$3.15â―237
-4.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$6.40â―481
68.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$1.50â―113
74.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.53â―115
-20.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$2.09â―157
-18.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$1.51â―114
4.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.68â―50.9
94.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.50â―37.57
134.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$1.10â―83.0
-39.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.61â―45.59
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$2.98â―224
52.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$6.18â―464
194.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$0.94â―70.7
94.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.27â―171
42.29%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.44â―32.78
102.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$1.29â―96.7
4.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.36â―26.75
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$3.75â―282
120.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$0.70â―52.8
81.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$49.4Kâ―3.7M
-57.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$43.3Kâ―3.3M
-48.10%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$118â―8,844
-40.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$6.47â―486
112.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$8.34â―626
111.03%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$25.81â―1,938
61.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$4.18â―314
38.28%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$314â―23.6K
-2.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$6,060â―455.1K
144.66%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$97.6â―7,329
-44.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$47.02â―3,532
-44.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$51.5â―3,864
64.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$75.5â―5,670
-8.04%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$257â―19.3K
64.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$300â―22.5K
-20.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$761â―57.1K
8.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$507â―38.1K
1.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,908â―143.3K
7.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$1,599â―120.1K
-4.79%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Almetyevsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
15.33
-67.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Almetyevsk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $257 in Almetyevsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $50.0 in Almetyevsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $146, with Almetyevsk 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 Almetyevsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Almetyevsk?
Almetyevsk wins on cost â living expenses run 3% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Almetyevsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Almetyevsk?
You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $1,243 in Almetyevsk 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai vs Almetyevsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $257 in Almetyevsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Almetyevsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Almetyevsk?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $828 in Almetyevsk â a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Almetyevsk?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Almetyevsk gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Almetyevsk?
Both work as nomad bases, but Almetyevsk delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $828 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Almetyevsk hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Almetyevsk?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Almetyevsk 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Almetyevsk gentler on the wallet â expenses run 3% less than in Chiang Mai. 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