Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kobuleti

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,030 in Kobuleti, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
49

Cost of Living Index in Kobuleti
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Kobuleti Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Kobuleti

🇬🇪 Georgia

$1,030

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,030 in Kobuleti, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Kobuleti $1,030

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,561 in Kobuleti, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Kobuleti $1,561

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,092 in Kobuleti, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Kobuleti $2,092

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Kobuleti, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kobuleti are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kobuleti 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$11.37 ₾29.44

-79.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$32.74 ₾84.8

-40.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$9.49 ₾24.57

-40.89%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.57 ₾9.24

-53.50%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$1.06 ₾2.74

-33.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.54 ₾1.41

-42.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$2.18 ₾5.63

10.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$2.76 ₾7.14

34.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$2.17 ₾5.61

-10.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.73 ₾1.88

93.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.55 ₾4.01

-15.48%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$2.67 ₾6.90

-18.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$9.91 ₾25.66

68.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$6.09 ₾15.75

-54.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$10.16 ₾26.31

-10.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.50 ₾3.87

59.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.77 ₾4.59

-41.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.49 ₾3.85

9.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$2.13 ₾5.50

-29.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.83 ₾2.14

55.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.69 ₾1.78

60.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.42 ₾3.67

-49.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.72 ₾1.85

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$3.20 ₾8.29

34.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$5.82 ₾15.08

208.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.49 ₾3.87

6.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.09 ₾5.42

35.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.30 ₾0.77

186.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$11.49 ₾29.74

363.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$1.18 ₾3.06

2.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.67 ₾1.74

-14.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$11.55 ₾29.89

-79.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.49 ₾3.87

-3.36%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$16.1K ₾41.6K

29.12%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$21.7K ₾56.1K

23.72%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$76.2 ₾197

-18.19%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$11.13 ₾28.81

8.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$15.70 ₾40.65

27.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$47.60 ₾123

-22.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$6.59 ₾17.07

-1.37%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$301 ₾780

163.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$3,110 ₾8,052

376.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$97.9 ₾253

-45.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$40.06 ₾104

-38.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$116 ₾301

-21.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$118 ₾305

-39.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$406 ₾1,051

12.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$284 ₾736

4.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$707 ₾1,831

28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$414 ₾1,072

33.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$1,084 ₾2,807

78.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$775 ₾2,006

86.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$531 ₾1,374

11.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.62

-55.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Kobuleti: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Kobuleti

$284 27.6% 4.6% $14

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Kobuleti

$213 20.6% 9.7% $23

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Kobuleti

$167 16.3% 54.8% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Kobuleti

$103 10% 9.2% $8.7

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Kobuleti

$185 18% 136% $107

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kobuleti

$17 1.7% 71.7% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kobuleti

$61 5.9% 21.4% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $406 in Kobuleti. 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 11% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Kobuleti. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Kobuleti – so Kobuleti wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇪 Kobuleti

🕒 Local time

23:12 11:12 PM

20:12 8:12 PM

3 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

17,435

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Georgian Lari GEL ₾

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 GEL = 0.386 USD

1 GEL = 0.344 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kobuleti 5,930 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kobuleti

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 Kobuleti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kobuleti costs about 11% 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,545 in Kobuleti. 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 $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $301 in Kobuleti. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Kobuleti – 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 $925, than in Kobuleti at $1,030. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kobuleti it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,030 in Kobuleti. 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, Kobuleti makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.