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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in Kholmsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,536 in Kholmsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,073 in Kholmsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Kholmsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kholmsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kholmsk 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$9.56 ₽804

-78.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$38.59 ₽3,243

-48.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.87 ₽493

-1.36%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.61 ₽219

-29.89%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.95 ₽79.9

-17.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.66 ₽55.8

-53.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.87 ₽158

25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.16 ₽266

17.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.96 ₽80.5

111.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.78 ₽65.3

105.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.19 ₽99.8

19.33%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.52 ₽128

43.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$9.74 ₽819

63.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.58 ₽469

-44.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$11.99 ₽1,007

-17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.96 ₽164

34.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.79 ₽150

-38.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.98 ₽166

-17.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.38 ₽200

-35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.81 ₽68.3

53.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.62 ₽52.2

82.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.40 ₽118

-47.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.79 ₽66.5

-36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.01 ₽253

42.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.65 ₽643

134.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.10 ₽92.6

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.10 ₽176

38.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.50 ₽42.42

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.46 ₽207

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.35 ₽29.78

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.60 ₽387

-47.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.77 ₽65.0

87.01%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$27.9K ₽2.3M

-24.08%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$30.5K ₽2.6M

-10.54%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$129 ₽10.9K

-49.72%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$4.96 ₽417

169.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$9.16 ₽770

127.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$33.83 ₽2,844

19.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$25.92 ₽2,178

-84.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.51 ₽463

21.78%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$349 ₽29.4K

125.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,894 ₽495.4K

156.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$58.4 ₽4,912

-3.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$40.14 ₽3,374

-37.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$110 ₽9,210

-15.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$82.8 ₽6,961

-9.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$393 ₽33.0K

23.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$316 ₽26.5K

-8.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$677 ₽56.9K

34.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$572 ₽48.1K

-7.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,134 ₽179.4K

-7.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,398 ₽117.5K

3.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kholmsk: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $393 in Kholmsk. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Kholmsk. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $205 in Kholmsk – so Kholmsk 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 Kholmsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kholmsk costs about 5% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,499 in Kholmsk. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Kholmsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Kholmsk – 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 $950, than in Kholmsk at $999. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kholmsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $999 in Kholmsk. 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, Kholmsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.