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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Apatity, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,540 in Apatity, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,093 in Apatity, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Apatity, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Apatity are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Apatity 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$9.78 ₽819

-78.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$36.89 ₽3,089

-46.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.02 ₽504

-2.82%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.70 ₽226

-34.81%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.12 ₽93.4

-33.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.57 ₽47.97

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.85 ₽155

33.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.98 ₽250

30.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.14 ₽95.8

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.72 ₽60.1

131.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.31 ₽110

3.05%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.59 ₽133

34.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$10.96 ₽918

44.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.09 ₽426

-44.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$9.91 ₽830

6.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.68 ₽141

41.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.80 ₽151

-40.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.75 ₽147

-13.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$2.84 ₽238

-47.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.79 ₽66.4

62.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.59 ₽49.60

86.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.35 ₽113

-48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.71 ₽59.4

-30.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.89 ₽242

47.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$7.34 ₽615

128.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.02 ₽85.1

62.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.91 ₽160

47.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.50 ₽41.54

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$21.75 ₽1,821

152.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$2.17 ₽182

-44.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.38 ₽31.62

42.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$5.39 ₽451

-56.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.79 ₽66.1

81.01%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$30.2K ₽2.5M

-30.13%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$29.9K ₽2.5M

-9.24%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$115 ₽9,661

-43.88%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$6.22 ₽521

112.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$8.17 ₽685

137.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$36.12 ₽3,024

9.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$5.32 ₽445

24.44%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$310 ₽25.9K

160.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$6,833 ₽572.2K

121.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$59.6 ₽4,987

-8.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$44.56 ₽3,731

-42.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$107 ₽8,991

-14.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$102 ₽8,533

-26.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$445 ₽37.3K

4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$308 ₽25.8K

-8.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$768 ₽64.3K

16.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$537 ₽45.0K

-3.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,135 ₽178.8K

-7.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,460 ₽122.3K

0.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

27.67

-79.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Apatity: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $445 in Apatity. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Apatity. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Apatity – so Apatity wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Apatity: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Apatity is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,481 in Apatity. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 152% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $310 in Apatity. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Apatity at $987. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Apatity it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Apatity makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.