Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Belgorod

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,111 in Belgorod, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Belgorod, Russia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Belgorod
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,111
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Belgorod actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,111 in Belgorod, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Belgorod $1,111

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,430 in Belgorod, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Belgorod $1,430

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,749 in Belgorod, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Belgorod $1,749

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Belgorod, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Belgorod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Belgorod 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$12.51 ₽1,020
-82.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿623
$30.27 ₽2,469
-38.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿187
$6.85 ₽558
-18.25%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.05 ₽167
-19.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.63
$0.90 ₽73.1
-27.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.20
$0.42 ₽34.57
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.7
$1.56 ₽127
48.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$1.81 ₽148
102.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.4
$0.91 ₽74.6
121.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.08
$0.60 ₽48.61
135.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.54
$0.60 ₽48.95
131.67%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.2
$1.46 ₽119
62.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿552
$9.89 ₽807
67.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.3
$4.69 ₽383
-43.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$7.03 ₽574
28.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$1.20 ₽98.2
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$1.74 ₽142
-40.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.5
$1.53 ₽125
8.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.1
$1.84 ₽150
-15.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.39
$0.87 ₽70.7
42.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.34
$1.17 ₽95.5
-6.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.47
$1.21 ₽98.8
-37.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.19
$0.69 ₽56.4
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$3.39 ₽276
21.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿600
$7.51 ₽613
138.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.22 ₽99.4
32.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.4
$3.44 ₽281
-18.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$0.32 ₽26.33
190.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,769
$18.55 ₽1,513
185.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.35
$1.25 ₽102
-5.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$6.50 ₽530
-72.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.25
$0.88 ₽71.7
67.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.6K
$53.9K ₽4.4M
-61.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.7K
$41.7K ₽3.4M
-36.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,092
$133 ₽10.8K
-52.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿388
$6.41 ₽523
80.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿679
$6.20 ₽506
227.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,267
$20.69 ₽1,688
83.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$5.47 ₽446
19.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.3K
$182 ₽14.8K
299.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿554.2K
$10.2K ₽832.3K
62.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,790
$165 ₽13.4K
-67.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿829
$136 ₽11.1K
-81.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,023
$228 ₽18.6K
-60.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,407
$73.1 ₽5,965
-1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$305 ₽24.8K
1.77%
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
$2,121 ₽173.0K
14.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.8K
$1,288 ₽105.1K
24.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Belgorod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$728 ₽59.4K
-18.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
18
-69.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Belgorod: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Belgorod
$305 1.7% $5.4
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Belgorod
$175 25.9% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Belgorod
$271 150% $162
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Belgorod
$146 54.1% $51
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Belgorod
$162 111% $85
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Belgorod
$21 * 64% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Belgorod
$32 37.9% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 22% higher in Belgorod. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $30 in Belgorod. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Belgorod – so Belgorod wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇷🇺 Belgorod
🕒 Local time
17:07 5:07 PM
13:07 1:07 PM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
391,702
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 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 = 91.6 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Belgorod 6,470 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Belgorod

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 Belgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Belgorod compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $935 in Chiang Mai, $1,111 in Belgorod – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Belgorod?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,666 in Belgorod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Belgorod?
Public transport costs about 65% less in Belgorod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Mai and Belgorod?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $182 in Belgorod. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,111 in Belgorod. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Belgorod?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,111 in Belgorod. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Belgorod?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgorod makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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