Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kislovodsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,089 in Kislovodsk, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kislovodsk, Russia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Kislovodsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,089
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,089 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Kislovodsk $1,089

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,734 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Kislovodsk $1,734

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,378 in Kislovodsk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Kislovodsk $2,378

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Kislovodsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kislovodsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kislovodsk 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿72.0
$10.84 ₽882
-80.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿628
$42.60 ₽3,466
-56.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿189
$6.19 ₽504
-9.53%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿56.1
$3.05 ₽248
-45.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.82
$1.16 ₽94.5
-43.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.29
$0.60 ₽48.88
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.3
$1.82 ₽148
27.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿124
$3.48 ₽283
5.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿68.0
$1.20 ₽98.0
68.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$0.78 ₽63.8
80.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.94
$1.44 ₽117
-3.47%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.9
$1.46 ₽119
62.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿557
$11.77 ₽958
40.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿90.1
$5.36 ₽436
-50.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿304
$11.39 ₽927
-20.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.9
$1.83 ₽149
31.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.12
$1.58 ₽129
-34.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.98 ₽161
-16.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.6
$3.15 ₽257
-50.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.75
$0.85 ₽69.5
45.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.65
$0.67 ₽54.8
62.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.70
$1.17 ₽95.0
-35.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.34
$0.64 ₽52.0
-20.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$3.15 ₽256
30.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿605
$7.78 ₽633
130.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.8
$1.19 ₽96.7
36.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿95.2
$2.04 ₽166
38.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.52
$0.49 ₽39.90
89.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,784
$31.08 ₽2,528
70.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.69
$2.14 ₽174
-44.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.78
$0.38 ₽30.77
-55.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿61.1
$5.65 ₽460
-67.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.67
$0.82 ₽66.9
79.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿708.7K
$49.3K ₽4.0M
-57.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿894.4K
$34.9K ₽2.8M
-24.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,110
$117 ₽9,502
-46.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿391
$7.38 ₽600
57.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿685
$7.58 ₽617
167.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,278
$39.71 ₽3,231
-4.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿125
$26.25 ₽2,135
-85.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿220
$5.85 ₽476
11.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.5K
$326 ₽26.5K
122.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿559.0K
$7,254 ₽590.1K
128.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,806
$98.3 ₽7,996
-45.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿836
$48.36 ₽3,934
-48.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,049
$126 ₽10.2K
-28.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,428
$118 ₽9,610
-39.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$531 ₽43.2K
-9.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.5K
$316 ₽25.7K
-1.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.7K
$1,032 ₽83.9K
2.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.2K
$602 ₽48.9K
9.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.5K
$2,136 ₽173.7K
13.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.3K
$1,486 ₽120.9K
8.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
21.33
-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Kislovodsk
$316 2% $6.2
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Kislovodsk
$212 10.4% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Kislovodsk
$176 62.3% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Kislovodsk
$132 39.5% $37
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Kislovodsk
$165 116% $88
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Kislovodsk
$37 36.8% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Kislovodsk
$51 1% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $531 in Kislovodsk. 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $43 in Kislovodsk. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Kislovodsk – so Kislovodsk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇷🇺 Kislovodsk
🕒 Local time
14:36 2:36 PM
10:36 10:36 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
127,919
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 81.35 RUB (100 RUB = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 91.2 RUB (100 RUB = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Kislovodsk 5,890 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Kislovodsk

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 Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kislovodsk?
Kislovodsk costs about 16% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Kislovodsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,634 in Kislovodsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Kislovodsk?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $531 in Kislovodsk. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Kislovodsk?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $326 in Kislovodsk. 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 Kislovodsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Kislovodsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Kislovodsk?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,089 in Kislovodsk. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Kislovodsk?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,089 in Kislovodsk. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kislovodsk?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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