🙂A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $886 in Dzerzhinsk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,294 in Dzerzhinsk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,703 in Dzerzhinsk, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Dzerzhinsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Dzerzhinsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Dzerzhinsk34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$8.47₽614
-76.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$19.20₽1,391
-4.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$5.70₽413
38.07%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$2.59₽188
-24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$1.25₽90.7
-32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$0.43₽31.03
-25.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
$1.01₽73.2
111.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
$3.11₽226
18.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$1.02₽73.8
62.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$0.62₽44.61
151.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$1.29₽93.8
-7.75%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$1.60₽116
24.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$9.71₽703
67.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$4.47₽324
-29.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
$7.78₽564
39.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$1.48₽107
79.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$1.74₽126
-29.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$1.29₽93.7
27.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$2.53₽184
-38.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$0.69₽50.3
92.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$0.71₽51.1
70.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$1.24₽89.6
-45.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$0.74₽53.6
-22.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$2.81₽204
66.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
$8.47₽614
100.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
$1.04₽75.2
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
$1.23₽89.4
158.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
$0.53₽38.12
71.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
$9.10₽659
105.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$1.85₽134
-23.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
$0.35₽25.55
282.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$6.17₽447
31.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$0.68₽49.56
88.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$33.3K₽2.4M
-34.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$31.3K₽2.3M
-28.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$114₽8,274
-38.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$5.56₽403
152.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$7.27₽527
142.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$35.03₽2,538
17.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$3.79₽275
57.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$343₽24.8K
-11.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$3,921₽284.1K
281.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$44.61₽3,232
22.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$45.06₽3,265
-41.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$44.30₽3,210
93.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$43.58₽3,158
59.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
$442₽32.0K
-3.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$310₽22.5K
-22.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
$766₽55.5K
5.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$507₽36.7K
0.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
$2,537₽183.8K
-20.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
$1,651₽119.7K
-9.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dzerzhinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
$883₽64.0K
-29.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
16.46
-69.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Dzerzhinsk: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $442 in Dzerzhinsk. 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 42% higher in Dzerzhinsk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Dzerzhinsk. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $180 in Dzerzhinsk – so Dzerzhinsk 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 Dzerzhinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
Dzerzhinsk costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Dzerzhinsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,329 in Dzerzhinsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Dzerzhinsk?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $343 in Dzerzhinsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Dzerzhinsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $886 in Dzerzhinsk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $886 in Dzerzhinsk. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Dzerzhinsk?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Dzerzhinsk?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dzerzhinsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared