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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,052 in Belgorod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,337 in Belgorod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,621 in Belgorod, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Belgorod, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Belgorod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Belgorod 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$11.75 ₽988

-82.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$30.05 ₽2,528

-34.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.21 ₽607

-21.36%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.04 ₽171

-11.27%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.87 ₽73.0

-11.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.44 ₽37.33

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.56 ₽131

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.76 ₽148

115.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.92 ₽77.2

122.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.57 ₽47.65

164.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.56 ₽47.46

150.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.33 ₽112

69.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.68 ₽899

51.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.51 ₽379

-35.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.44 ₽541

46.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.21 ₽102

121.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.64 ₽138

-33.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.49 ₽126

8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.80 ₽152

-18.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.90 ₽75.8

42.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.15 ₽96.8

-7.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.15 ₽96.7

-37.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.86 ₽72.4

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.28 ₽276

28.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.03 ₽592

160.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.35 ₽114

20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.15 ₽265

-7.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.19 ₽100

-1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.48 ₽40.78

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.11 ₽430

-53.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.77 ₽64.7

88.31%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$28.7K ₽2.4M

-26.68%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$36.7K ₽3.1M

-27.91%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$110 ₽9,239

-42.04%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$5.71 ₽481

125.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$5.89 ₽495

248.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$20.18 ₽1,698

93.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.68 ₽562

-1.50%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$177 ₽14.9K

341.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$9,566 ₽804.8K

53.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$162 ₽13.7K

-66.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$130 ₽10.9K

-80.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$223 ₽18.8K

-57.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$70.9 ₽5,968

4.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$300 ₽25.2K

-3.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,055 ₽172.9K

-3.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,247 ₽105.0K

15.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$586 ₽49.3K

2.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-69.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Belgorod: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Belgorod. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $174 in Belgorod – so Belgorod 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 Belgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $1,052 in Belgorod – roughly 13% apart. Belgorod costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,578 in Belgorod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Belgorod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Belgorod – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Belgorod at $1,052. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgorod it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Chiang Mai to $1,052 in Belgorod. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Belgorod makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.