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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $950 in Arzamas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,487 in Arzamas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $2,025 in Arzamas.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 8% less than in Arzamas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Arzamas 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$9.77 ₽708

-79.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$38.36 ₽2,780

-50.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.59 ₽405

38.64%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.37 ₽172

-18.99%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.11 ₽80.6

-28.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.52 ₽37.83

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.43 ₽104

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.46 ₽179

48.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.15 ₽83.4

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.69 ₽50.4

136.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.36 ₽98.9

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.80 ₽131

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.75 ₽779

48.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.94 ₽358

-38.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$8.80 ₽638

23.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.75 ₽127

57.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.81 ₽131

-34.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.98 ₽144

-17.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.67 ₽193

-43.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.80 ₽58.2

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.72 ₽52.3

65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.35 ₽98.0

-48.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.71 ₽51.8

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.90 ₽210

57.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.77 ₽491

144.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.01 ₽72.9

81.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.96 ₽142

63.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.53 ₽38.30

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.89 ₽137

-28.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.35 ₽25.49

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.28 ₽455

24.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.77 ₽56.1

59.74%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$34.0K ₽2.5M

-36.41%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$35.9K ₽2.6M

-37.25%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$110 ₽7,979

-35.94%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$6.09 ₽441

124.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.03 ₽582

117.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$34.93 ₽2,531

18.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.22 ₽378

10.54%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$330 ₽23.9K

-6.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,082 ₽513.1K

106.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$70.4 ₽5,100

-20.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$45.14 ₽3,271

-41.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$115 ₽8,368

-25.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$107 ₽7,768

-32.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$451 ₽32.7K

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$309 ₽22.4K

-22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$764 ₽55.4K

6.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$500 ₽36.3K

2.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,217 ₽160.6K

-10.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,864 ₽135.1K

-20.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

-67.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Arzamas: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $451 in Arzamas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $38.00 in Arzamas. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $196, with Arzamas 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 Arzamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Arzamas differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $950 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $1,424 in Arzamas 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $451 in Arzamas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Arzamas pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $950 in Arzamas – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Arzamas 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 9% less than in Arzamas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.