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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $982 in Arzamas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,501 in Arzamas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $2,021 in Arzamas.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 13% less than in Arzamas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Arzamas 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.38 ₽705

-79.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$37.81 ₽2,840

-50.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.79 ₽435

36.79%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.30 ₽173

-16.96%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.08 ₽80.9

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.48 ₽36.03

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.43 ₽107

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.49 ₽187

52.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.10 ₽82.4

49.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.70 ₽52.3

131.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.37 ₽103

-13.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.71 ₽129

17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.03 ₽828

44.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.72 ₽355

-36.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.02 ₽677

19.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.82 ₽136

43.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.86 ₽140

-34.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.91 ₽144

-10.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.80 ₽210

-43.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.86 ₽64.5

53.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.66 ₽49.66

77.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.42 ₽106

-52.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.66 ₽49.35

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.89 ₽217

56.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.59 ₽495

176.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.95 ₽71.5

92.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.95 ₽146

65.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.49 ₽36.83

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.85 ₽139

-27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.35 ₽26.56

285.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.52 ₽490

26.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.76 ₽57.2

67.11%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$34.5K ₽2.6M

-38.75%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$35.2K ₽2.6M

-36.04%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$108 ₽8,077

-34.77%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.83 ₽438

136.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.60 ₽571

131.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$35.09 ₽2,636

18.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.19 ₽390

11.37%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$322 ₽24.2K

-5.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,020 ₽527.3K

111.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$69.3 ₽5,208

-21.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$43.57 ₽3,273

-40.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$113 ₽8,485

-25.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$106 ₽7,971

-34.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$451 ₽33.9K

-6.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$303 ₽22.7K

-21.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$774 ₽58.1K

6.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$506 ₽38.0K

1.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,156 ₽162.0K

-4.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,336 ₽100.4K

13.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Arzamas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 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 $243 vs $195, 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 15% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $982 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $1,472 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: $424 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 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $982 in Arzamas – a 15% 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 15% less than in Arzamas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.