Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Indiga

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,137 in Indiga, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Indiga
Learn more

Indiga Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Indiga

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,137

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,137 in Indiga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Indiga $1,137

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,746 in Indiga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Indiga $1,746

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,355 in Indiga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Indiga $2,355

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Indiga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Indiga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Indiga 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.2

$13.77 ₽1,125

-84.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿622

$37.01 ₽3,023

-49.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$6.11 ₽499

-8.35%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.5

$3.21 ₽262

-48.29%

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

$0.65 ฿21.59

$1.27 ₽104

-48.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.18

$0.59 ₽47.90

-49.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.5

$1.87 ₽153

24.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.30 ₽269

11.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.3

$1.06 ₽86.5

90.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.00

$0.84 ₽68.8

67.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.46

$1.47 ₽120

-5.44%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.0

$1.53 ₽125

54.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿551

$10.66 ₽870

54.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.1

$4.75 ₽388

-43.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿301

$9.94 ₽812

-9.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.1

$1.73 ₽142

38.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

$1.63 ₽133

-36.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.4

$1.54 ₽126

7.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.0

$2.92 ₽239

-46.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.31

$0.89 ₽73.0

39.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.27

$0.70 ₽57.5

55.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.43

$1.25 ₽102

-39.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.16

$0.68 ₽55.1

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$3.35 ₽274

22.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿598

$8.41 ₽687

113.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.2

$1.26 ₽103

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.2

$2.37 ₽194

18.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.19

$0.59 ₽48.45

57.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,766

$28.39 ₽2,318

86.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.28

$2.75 ₽224

-57.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.72

$0.39 ₽31.58

-56.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.5

$6.60 ₽539

-72.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.16

$0.81 ₽66.1

81.48%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$45.6K ₽3.7M

-53.92%

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

$26.5K ฿885.1K

$35.2K ₽2.9M

-24.75%

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

$62.6 ฿2,088

$134 ₽10.9K

-53.16%

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

$11.60 ฿387

$6.37 ₽520

82.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿678

$8.90 ₽727

128.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,264

$37.74 ₽3,082

0.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿123

$24.64 ₽2,012

-84.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿217

$5.63 ₽460

15.63%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$403 ₽32.9K

80.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿553.2K

$6,041 ₽493.3K

174.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,787

$99.6 ₽8,130

-46.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿828

$47.69 ₽3,894

-48.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,017

$151 ₽12.3K

-39.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,402

$117 ₽9,536

-38.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$459 ₽37.5K

4.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.3K

$326 ₽26.6K

-4.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.3K

$843 ₽68.8K

25.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

$550 ₽44.9K

19.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.7K

$2,605 ₽212.7K

-7.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.7K

$1,690 ₽138.0K

-4.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.33

-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Indiga: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Indiga

$326 28.7% 5.2% $16

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Indiga

$201 17.7% 15.1% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Indiga

$187 16.4% 72.2% $78

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Indiga

$149 13.1% 57.5% $54

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Indiga

$190 16.7% 149% $114

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Indiga

$35 3.1% 39.6% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Indiga

$49 4.3% 3.7% $1.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $459 in Indiga. 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 $37 in Indiga. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Indiga – so Indiga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Indiga

🕒 Local time

09:11 9:11 AM

05:11 5:11 AM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

600

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

100 RUB = 1.22 USD

100 RUB = 1.09 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 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.66 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 91.67 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Indiga 6,450 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Indiga

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 Indiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Indiga costs about 22% 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 $1,706 in Indiga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $459 in Indiga. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $403 in Indiga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Indiga – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,137 in Indiga. 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 $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,137 in Indiga. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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