Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chita

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,085 in Chita, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
53

Cost of Living Index in Chita
Learn more

Chita Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Chita

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,085

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,085 in Chita, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Chita $1,085

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,719 in Chita, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Chita $1,719

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,354 in Chita, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Chita $2,354

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Chita, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Chita are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Chita 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$10.90 ₽878

-79.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$38.76 ₽3,121

-50.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$5.63 ₽453

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$2.59 ₽209

-35.52%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.24 ₽99.5

-48.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.60 ₽48.10

-48.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.88 ₽151

25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.27 ₽264

11.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.16 ₽93.5

68.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.79 ₽63.5

82.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.27 ₽102

4.72%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.62 ₽130

40.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$11.42 ₽919

44.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$5.63 ₽453

-50.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$11.55 ₽930

-19.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.85 ₽149

27.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.88 ₽152

-48.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.62 ₽131

-1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$2.93 ₽236

-48.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.73 ₽58.7

75.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$0.66 ₽53.3

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.49 ₽120

-52.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.85 ₽68.1

-42.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.14 ₽253

31.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$8.10 ₽652

116.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.26 ₽102

27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.34 ₽189

18.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.50 ₽40.60

74.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$25.70 ₽2,069

110.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$2.21 ₽178

-47.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.33 ₽26.83

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$5.79 ₽467

-58.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$0.93 ₽75.1

55.91%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$61.2K ₽4.9M

-65.60%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$39.8K ₽3.2M

-32.37%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$124 ₽10.0K

-50.04%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$6.48 ₽522

87.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$8.59 ₽692

134.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$32.00 ₽2,577

16.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$26.84 ₽2,161

-85.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$7.05 ₽568

-7.94%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$326 ₽26.2K

126.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$6,900 ₽555.7K

113.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$80.5 ₽6,482

-33.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$61.7 ₽4,971

-60.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$129 ₽10.4K

-29.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$113 ₽9,123

-36.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$481 ₽38.7K

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$319 ₽25.7K

-3.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$938 ₽75.5K

7.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$620 ₽50.0K

2.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,532 ₽203.9K

-6.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,436 ₽115.6K

10.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$454 ₽36.5K

29.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.45

-74.03%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chita: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Chita

$319 29.4% 3.4% $10

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Chita

$217 20% 7.6% $18

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Chita

$173 16% 59.4% $65

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Chita

$140 12.9% 47.7% $45

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Chita

$158 14.6% 104% $81

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Chita

$32 2.9% 48.5% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Chita

$46 4.3% 8.3% $4.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $481 in Chita. 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 30% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Chita. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $217 in Chita – so Chita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Chita

🕒 Local time

03:16 3:16 AM

05:16 5:16 AM

2 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

333,679

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 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 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.83 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 90.27 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Chita 3,910 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Chita

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 Chita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chita costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,627 in Chita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $481 in Chita. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $326 in Chita. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chita – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,085 in Chita. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,085 in Chita. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.