Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gelendzhik

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,114 in Gelendzhik, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
54

Cost of Living Index in Gelendzhik
Learn more

Gelendzhik Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Gelendzhik

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,114

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,114 in Gelendzhik, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Gelendzhik $1,114

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,749 in Gelendzhik, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Gelendzhik $1,749

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,384 in Gelendzhik, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Gelendzhik $2,384

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Gelendzhik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$12.03 ₽973

-81.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$47.40 ₽3,833

-59.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$8.49 ₽686

-34.63%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.68 ₽297

-54.62%

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

$0.64 ฿21.53

$1.49 ₽120

-57.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

$0.83 ₽67.5

-62.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.30 ₽105

81.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.39 ₽274

7.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.58 ₽128

23.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.45

$1.18 ₽95.6

22.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.01

$1.36 ₽110

-2.21%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$1.79 ₽145

27.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$11.27 ₽911

45.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$5.05 ₽408

-44.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.18 ₽823

-8.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.28 ₽104

83.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.78

$1.82 ₽147

-46.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.88 ₽152

-14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.95 ₽157

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.10

$0.85 ₽69.1

50.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.17

$0.62 ₽50.2

77.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.81

$1.46 ₽118

-51.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$0.58 ₽46.91

-15.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.55 ₽287

16.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$7.58 ₽613

131.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.12 ₽90.9

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$2.18 ₽177

27.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.29

$0.57 ₽45.77

52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$25.08 ₽2,028

115.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.03

$2.46 ₽199

-52.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.79

$0.37 ₽30.13

43.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$5.75 ₽465

-57.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.87

$0.88 ₽70.8

64.77%

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

$21.1K ฿710.3K

$51.5K ₽4.2M

-59.13%

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

$26.9K ฿908.7K

$41.3K ₽3.3M

-34.83%

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

$62.2 ฿2,097

$152 ₽12.3K

-59.01%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$7.12 ₽576

70.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$7.45 ₽602

170.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$35.56 ₽2,876

4.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$24.06 ₽1,946

-84.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.84 ₽230

128.52%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$350 ₽28.3K

110.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.0K

$6,257 ₽505.9K

135.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,800

$81.2 ₽6,564

-34.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$53.3 ₽4,309

-53.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,086

$122 ₽9,825

-24.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,426

$103 ₽8,365

-30.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$481 ₽38.9K

0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$319 ₽25.8K

-3.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$901 ₽72.8K

11.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$581 ₽47.0K

9.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

$2,219 ₽179.4K

6.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,514 ₽122.4K

4.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-75.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Gelendzhik: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Gelendzhik

$319 28.6% 3.3% $10

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Gelendzhik

$206 18.5% 12% $28

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Gelendzhik

$162 14.5% 48.9% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Gelendzhik

$166 14.9% 76% $72

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Gelendzhik

$188 16.9% 143% $111

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Gelendzhik

$32 2.8% 48.4% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Gelendzhik

$41 3.7% 18% $9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $481 in Gelendzhik. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $47 in Gelendzhik. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Gelendzhik – so Gelendzhik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Gelendzhik

🕒 Local time

10:29 10:29 AM

06:29 6:29 AM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

80,296

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.1 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 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 80.86 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 90.63 RUB (100 RUB = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Gelendzhik 6,270 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Gelendzhik

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 Gelendzhik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gelendzhik costs about 19% 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 $1,672 in Gelendzhik. 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 Gelendzhik. 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 $350 in Gelendzhik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Gelendzhik – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,114 in Gelendzhik. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.