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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,159 in Kazan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,784 in Kazan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,410 in Kazan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Kazan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$12.55 ₽1,055
-83.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$37.50 ₽3,152
-47.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$5.94 ₽499
-2.53%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$3.22 ₽271
-43.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$1.38 ₽116
-43.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.54 ₽45.13
-42.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$1.70 ₽143
37.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$2.26 ₽190
63.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.10 ₽92.3
84.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.72 ₽60.7
122.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$1.44 ₽121
-1.39%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$1.46 ₽123
49.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$11.08 ₽931
43.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$4.35 ₽365
-29.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$10.36 ₽870
-4.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$1.85 ₽155
42.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$1.61 ₽135
-31.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.81 ₽152
-9.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$2.89 ₽243
-47.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.86 ₽72.4
44.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.53 ₽44.18
113.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$1.37 ₽115
-45.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.73 ₽61.6
-31.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$2.89 ₽243
48.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$7.35 ₽618
144.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.02 ₽85.9
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$1.86 ₽156
55.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$0.53 ₽44.14
77.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$18.48 ₽1,553
199.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$2.39 ₽201
-48.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$0.54 ₽45.13
-1.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$6.79 ₽571
-64.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$0.80 ₽67.4
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$35.0K ₽2.9M
-39.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$41.3K ₽3.5M
-33.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$124 ₽10.4K
-47.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$6.08 ₽511
119.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$6.78 ₽570
207.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$32.26 ₽2,711
25.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
$28.92 ₽2,431
-86.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$6.38 ₽537
5.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$283 ₽23.8K
178.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$6,157 ₽517.5K
145.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$88.8 ₽7,461
-36.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$89.3 ₽7,506
-72.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$104 ₽8,724
-10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$76.2 ₽6,402
-1.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$671 ₽56.4K
-27.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$408 ₽34.3K
-29.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,084 ₽91.1K
-16.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$760 ₽63.9K
-30.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$4,273 ₽359.1K
-53.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$2,346 ₽197.2K
-38.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$938 ₽78.8K
-35.46%
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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kazan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $671 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 55% higher in Kazan, 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 $38.00 in Kazan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $198 in Kazan – so Kazan 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 Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kazan?
Kazan costs about 22% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Kazan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,738 in Kazan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kazan?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Kazan?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $283 in Kazan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Kazan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Kazan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Kazan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Kazan at $1,159. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kazan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kazan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,159 in Kazan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kazan?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Kazan?
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.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities