Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kazan

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,254 in Kazan, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 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
60

Cost of Living Index in Kazan
Learn more

Kazan Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Kazan

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,254

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,254 in Kazan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Kazan $1,254

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,944 in Kazan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Kazan $1,944

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,635 in Kazan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Kazan $2,635

Chiang Mai is about 25% cheaper than Kazan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kazan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kazan 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$13.87 ₽1,119

-83.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$40.79 ₽3,290

-53.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$6.49 ₽523

-14.48%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$3.27 ₽264

-48.93%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.42 ₽115

-54.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.63 ₽50.7

-50.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.83 ₽148

28.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.47 ₽199

48.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.14 ₽91.9

71.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.77 ₽62.4

87.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.59 ₽128

-16.35%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.49 ₽120

53.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$11.67 ₽941

40.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$4.84 ₽391

-42.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$11.03 ₽889

-15.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$2.00 ₽161

17.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.73 ₽140

-43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.00 ₽161

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$3.16 ₽255

-52.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.85 ₽68.6

50.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.55 ₽44.27

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.50 ₽121

-52.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.78 ₽63.1

-37.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.02 ₽244

37.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$8.01 ₽646

118.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.10 ₽88.9

46.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.99 ₽160

39.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.58 ₽47.00

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$31.56 ₽2,545

71.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$2.50 ₽202

-53.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.53 ₽43.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$7.58 ₽611

-68.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$0.85 ₽68.5

70.59%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$53.0K ₽4.3M

-60.27%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$42.4K ₽3.4M

-36.44%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$128 ₽10.3K

-51.43%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$5.61 ₽452

116.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$7.33 ₽591

174.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$37.72 ₽3,042

-1.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$31.24 ₽2,520

-87.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.72 ₽542

-3.42%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$301 ₽24.3K

144.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$6,657 ₽536.9K

121.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$95.3 ₽7,682

-43.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$96.1 ₽7,753

-74.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$108 ₽8,670

-14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$79.0 ₽6,367

-8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$699 ₽56.3K

-30.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$448 ₽36.1K

-31.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$1,158 ₽93.4K

-13.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$806 ₽65.0K

-21.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$4,519 ₽364.4K

-47.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$2,489 ₽200.8K

-36.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,000 ₽80.6K

-41.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

20.8

-73.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kazan: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Kazan

$448 35.7% 45% $139

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Kazan

$213 17% 9.3% $22

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Kazan

$170 13.6% 56.5% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kazan

$141 11.2% 49.2% $46

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Kazan

$192 15.3% 148% $114

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kazan

$39 3.1% 36.3% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kazan

$51 4.1% 1.8% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $699 in Kazan. 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 70% higher in Kazan. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $41 in Kazan. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Kazan – so Kazan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Kazan

🕒 Local time

00:42 12:42 AM

20:42 8:42 PM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,257,341

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 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 October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.65 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.78 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kazan 5,830 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kazan

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 Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kazan costs about 34% 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 $1,880 in Kazan. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $699 in Kazan.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $301 in Kazan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Kazan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,254 in Kazan. 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 $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,254 in Kazan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Kazan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.