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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,012 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,571 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,130 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kislovodsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kislovodsk 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$10.93 ₽924

-80.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$36.19 ₽3,059

-45.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.95 ₽503

-4.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.57 ₽218

-29.57%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.10 ₽93.1

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.60 ₽50.3

-41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.72 ₽145

28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.89 ₽244

31.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.13 ₽95.6

81.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.72 ₽60.7

109.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.35 ₽114

3.70%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.36 ₽115

66.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$10.70 ₽904

51.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$5.11 ₽432

-43.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$10.39 ₽878

-9.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.75 ₽148

53.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.77 ₽149

-38.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.76 ₽149

-7.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$2.69 ₽228

-45.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.75 ₽63.4

70.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.59 ₽49.67

79.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.31 ₽111

-45.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.67 ₽56.5

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.77 ₽234

52.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$7.67 ₽649

138.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$0.98 ₽82.5

66.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.00 ₽169

45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.52 ₽44.32

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$20.54 ₽1,736

161.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$2.25 ₽191

-48.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.31 ₽25.91

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$5.36 ₽453

-55.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.77 ₽65.5

88.31%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$32.1K ₽2.7M

-34.46%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$31.4K ₽2.7M

-15.83%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$118 ₽9,966

-46.03%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$5.88 ₽497

119.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$8.09 ₽684

153.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$33.79 ₽2,856

15.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$23.11 ₽1,953

-83.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.68 ₽480

15.85%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$311 ₽26.3K

151.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$6,178 ₽522.1K

137.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$69.4 ₽5,863

-20.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$45.32 ₽3,830

-45.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$114 ₽9,675

-17.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$95.4 ₽8,059

-22.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$533 ₽45.0K

-7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$314 ₽26.5K

-8.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$776 ₽65.6K

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$522 ₽44.1K

-0.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,214 ₽187.1K

-10.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,473 ₽124.4K

-1.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$727 ₽61.4K

-17.20%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $533 in Kislovodsk. 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 21% higher in Kislovodsk, 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 $36.00 in Kislovodsk. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Kislovodsk – so Kislovodsk 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 Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kislovodsk costs about 9% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,517 in Kislovodsk. 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $311 in Kislovodsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Kislovodsk – 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 $932, than in Kislovodsk at $1,012. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kislovodsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,012 in Kislovodsk. 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, Kislovodsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.