Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Astrakhan

For one person, living is cheaper in Astrakhan: $152 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Astrakhan

🇷🇺 Russia

$152

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Astrakhan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Astrakhan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $935 in Chiang Mai versus $152 in Astrakhan.

Chiang Mai $935
Astrakhan $152

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,467 in Chiang Mai versus $335 in Astrakhan.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Astrakhan $335

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,999 in Chiang Mai versus $517 in Astrakhan.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Astrakhan $517

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 514% more expensive than in Astrakhan.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Astrakhan 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$8.69 ₽709

-75.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$42.28 ₽3,449

-55.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$5.47 ₽446

2.38%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.72 ₽222

-38.97%

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$1.45 ₽118

-55.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$0.82 ₽67.0

-63.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$3.02 ₽246

-23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.80 ₽391

-23.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$0.81 ₽66.1

81.48%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

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

$11.60 ฿388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

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

$727 ฿24.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-70.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Astrakhan: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Astrakhan

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Astrakhan

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Astrakhan

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Astrakhan

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Astrakhan

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Astrakhan

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Astrakhan

–

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $19 in Chiang Mai vs $42 in Astrakhan for two.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Astrakhan

🕒 Local time

10:37 10:37 AM

07:37 7:37 AM

3 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

524,371

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 RUB = 1.23 USD

100 RUB = 1.09 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.56 RUB (100 RUB = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 91.56 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Astrakhan 5,540 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Astrakhan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Total monthly costs including rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $152 in Astrakhan, so Astrakhan is about 84% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You’d need roughly $1,403 in Chiang Mai and $229 in Astrakhan 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19 versus $42 in Astrakhan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $935 per month in Chiang Mai versus $152 in Astrakhan – Astrakhan is about 84% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Astrakhan 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.