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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $890 in Belgorod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,318 in Belgorod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,746 in Belgorod, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Belgorod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Belgorod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Belgorod 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.1

$9.43 ₽754

-78.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$37.55 ₽3,004

-50.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.74 ₽459

36.93%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.6

$2.58 ₽206

-21.32%

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

$0.80 ฿26.63

$0.97 ₽77.8

-17.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.39 ₽31.26

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.85 ₽67.7

151.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.56 ₽285

3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.16 ₽93.0

49.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.74 ₽59.1

112.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.98

$1.28 ₽102

-6.25%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.78 ₽143

10.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.30 ₽744

74.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.89 ₽391

-37.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$5.11 ₽408

111.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.79 ₽143

54.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.93

$1.78 ₽142

-34.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿56.9

$1.62 ₽130

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.12 ₽169

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.49

$0.66 ₽53.1

110.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.55

$0.45 ₽36.29

157.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.96 ₽157

-66.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.30

$0.55 ₽44.14

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.11 ₽249

49.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$5.79 ₽463

207.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.72 ₽57.9

148.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.17 ₽93.4

185.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.26

$0.33 ₽26.58

175.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$15.12 ₽1,210

23.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.02

$1.12 ₽89.9

25.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.69

$0.24 ₽19.28

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$7.48 ₽598

8.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.14

$0.73 ₽58.0

68.49%

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

$21.4K ฿714.9K

$30.7K ₽2.5M

-30.25%

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

$21.8K ฿727.8K

$35.3K ₽2.8M

-38.24%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$93.7 ₽7,496

-23.88%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$6.93 ₽554

102.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$8.92 ₽713

101.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,361

$12.56 ₽1,005

225.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.29 ₽2,023

-72.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.96 ₽557

-17.82%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$321 ₽25.7K

-3.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.5K

$4,565 ₽365.2K

221.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$60.2 ₽4,817

-7.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿868

$37.94 ₽3,035

-31.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,828

$76.0 ₽6,078

11.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$64.6 ₽5,170

9.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$568 ₽45.4K

-25.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,086

$310 ₽24.8K

-21.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$999 ₽79.9K

-20.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$423 ₽33.9K

19.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$2,230 ₽178.4K

-13.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,325 ₽106.0K

10.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.8K

$490 ₽39.2K

21.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

-38.80%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Belgorod: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $568 in Belgorod. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Belgorod. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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: $852 in Chiang Mai, $890 in Belgorod – roughly 4% apart. Belgorod costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,336 in Belgorod. 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 23% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $321 in Belgorod. 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 $852, than in Belgorod at $890. 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 $852 in Chiang Mai to $890 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.