Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ivdel Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ivdel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $959 in Ivdel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,489 in Ivdel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,019 in Ivdel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Ivdel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ivdel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ivdel 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$9.41 ₽682

-78.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$38.17 ₽2,765

-50.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.63 ₽408

37.66%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.4

$2.26 ₽164

-15.04%

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

$0.79 ฿25.76

$1.09 ₽78.8

-27.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.60

$0.48 ₽34.65

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.0

$1.35 ₽98.1

63.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.55 ₽185

43.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.11 ₽80.6

48.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.1

$0.70 ₽50.9

132.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.81

$1.42 ₽103

-16.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.0

$1.77 ₽128

12.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.85 ₽786

47.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.4

$4.92 ₽356

-38.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿353

$8.73 ₽632

24.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.9

$1.81 ₽131

52.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.37

$1.89 ₽137

-37.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

$1.92 ₽139

-14.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.45

$2.81 ₽203

-45.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.05

$0.79 ₽57.6

74.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.79

$0.71 ₽51.2

67.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.84

$1.35 ₽97.8

-48.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.11

$0.71 ₽51.4

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.92 ₽211

56.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.84 ₽640

87.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.96 ₽69.6

90.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.87 ₽135

71.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.53

$0.53 ₽38.56

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.11

$1.89 ₽137

-28.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.60

$0.35 ₽25.38

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿255

$6.18 ₽447

26.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.87

$0.72 ₽52.3

70.83%

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

$21.6K ฿703.4K

$34.6K ₽2.5M

-37.49%

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

$22.5K ฿733.4K

$36.2K ₽2.6M

-37.76%

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

$70.5 ฿2,295

$109 ₽7,893

-35.26%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.82 ₽422

135.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.82 ₽567

123.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,345

$35.45 ₽2,568

16.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.16 ₽374

11.82%

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

$307 ฿9,989

$320 ₽23.2K

-3.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.3K

$7,102 ₽514.4K

105.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,815

$69.4 ₽5,025

-19.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿853

$44.32 ₽3,211

-40.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,789

$114 ₽8,227

-24.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,350

$108 ₽7,826

-33.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$438 ₽31.7K

-1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,764

$310 ₽22.4K

-22.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$753 ₽54.5K

8.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$506 ₽36.7K

0.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.5K

$2,353 ₽170.5K

-15.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,723 ₽124.8K

-13.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

-67.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ivdel: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $438 in Ivdel. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Ivdel. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Ivdel – so Ivdel 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 Ivdel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ivdel costs about 10% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,438 in Ivdel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Ivdel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Ivdel – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Ivdel at $959. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ivdel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $959 in Ivdel. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ivdel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.