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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $905 per month in Chiang Mai vs $946 in Izhevsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,374 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,467 in Izhevsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,843 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,988 in Izhevsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Izhevsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Izhevsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Izhevsk 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.8

$7.03 ₽568

-70.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 ฿645

$37.36 ₽3,017

-47.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 ฿196

$5.04 ₽407

17.86%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ฿56.3

$2.06 ₽167

-17.48%

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

$0.72 ฿23.76

$1.15 ₽92.5

-37.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.72

$0.40 ₽32.52

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿80.7

$1.84 ₽148

32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿121

$2.43 ₽196

50.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ฿61.4

$1.13 ₽91.1

64.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.5

$0.62 ₽49.89

151.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.92

$1.71 ₽138

-22.22%

Eggs

$2.16 ฿71.4

$1.60 ₽129

35.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ฿515

$14.48 ₽1,169

7.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 ฿94.0

$5.64 ₽455

-49.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 ฿343

$9.67 ₽781

7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ฿80.5

$1.84 ₽149

32.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿35.97

$1.97 ₽159

-44.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.56

$1.44 ₽116

2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿49.25

$2.82 ₽227

-47.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.60

$1.05 ₽84.5

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿35.86

$0.99 ₽79.7

10.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.72

$1.39 ₽112

-50.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.97

$0.61 ₽49.38

-16.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 ฿144

$3.01 ₽243

45.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.63 ฿550

$7.52 ₽607

121.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$0.78 ₽62.9

111.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿90.6

$1.63 ₽132

68.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.16

$0.45 ₽36.71

108.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ฿1,809

$24.55 ₽1,982

122.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.53

$3.14 ₽254

-60.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.94

$0.30 ₽24.11

90.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ฿78.0

$6.85 ₽553

-65.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿47.87

$0.81 ₽65.7

79.01%

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

$20.8K ฿688.6K

$30.6K ₽2.5M

-31.90%

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

$26.3K ฿867.9K

$31.1K ₽2.5M

-15.45%

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

$62.3 ฿2,059

$135 ₽10.9K

-53.85%

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

$13.01 ฿430

$7.03 ₽568

85.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.45 ฿643

$6.87 ₽555

183.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.68 ฿1,278

$27.80 ₽2,244

39.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.86 ฿128

$9.72 ₽785

-60.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿219

$5.81 ₽469

13.94%

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

$782 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿489.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ฿1,786

$84.0 ₽6,785

-35.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.39 ฿839

$24.43 ₽1,972

3.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,005

$110 ₽8,903

-17.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,444

$123 ₽9,933

-39.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ฿15.7K

$374 ₽30.2K

27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ฿9,079

$229 ₽18.5K

20.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 ฿29.1K

$535 ₽43.2K

64.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ฿17.5K

$388 ₽31.3K

36.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿65.7K

$2,528 ₽204.1K

-21.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ฿48.8K

$1,264 ₽102.1K

16.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 ฿19.8K

$904 ₽72.9K

-33.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-73.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 2, 2026

Last update for Izhevsk: August 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Chiang Mai versus $374 in Izhevsk. 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 51% higher in Izhevsk, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Izhevsk. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Izhevsk – so Izhevsk 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 Izhevsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Izhevsk costs about 5% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,358 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,419 in Izhevsk. 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.

Public transport costs about 123% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Izhevsk – 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 $905, than in Izhevsk at $946. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Izhevsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $905 versus $946 in Izhevsk. 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, Izhevsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.