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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Kobuleti, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,304 in Kobuleti, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,721 in Kobuleti, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Kobuleti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kobuleti are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kobuleti 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿66.0

$8.74 ₾22.91

-77.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿618

$29.81 ₾78.1

-38.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.09 ₾21.21

-7.54%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿68.0

$2.77 ₾7.26

-27.08%

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

$0.85 ฿28.57

$0.81 ₾2.12

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.99

$0.42 ₾1.10

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿72.0

$2.04 ₾5.34

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.22 ₾5.82

61.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.6

$1.74 ₾4.56

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.8

$0.51 ₾1.33

207.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.12

$1.54 ₾4.03

-22.73%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.2

$2.36 ₾6.18

-17.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿546

$7.53 ₾19.73

115.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.06 ₾13.26

-40.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿369

$8.73 ₾22.90

25.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.4

$1.07 ₾2.81

153.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.34

$1.56 ₾4.08

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.9

$1.39 ₾3.64

21.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.1

$1.69 ₾4.42

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.65

$0.66 ₾1.72

109.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.54

$0.64 ₾1.67

87.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.55

$1.18 ₾3.09

-43.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.77

$0.61 ₾1.59

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.86 ₾7.50

62.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿594

$5.57 ₾14.61

216.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.25 ₾3.27

48.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.97 ₾5.17

67.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.75

$0.17 ₾0.44

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿652

$10.93 ₾28.64

76.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿46.01

$1.47 ₾3.86

-7.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.08

$0.52 ₾1.37

157.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿277

$3.00 ₾7.87

173.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.28

$1.10 ₾2.89

10.91%

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

$21.4K ฿719.8K

$14.4K ₾37.7K

48.40%

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

$22.5K ฿759.5K

$18.7K ₾49.0K

20.62%

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

$70.7 ฿2,382

$74.2 ₾195

-4.77%

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

$14.04 ฿473

$11.03 ₾28.91

27.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿590

$16.83 ₾44.11

3.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,421

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿200

$5.43 ₾14.23

9.02%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$242 ₾633

27.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿501.5K

$2,966 ₾7,776

401.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,880

$75.3 ₾197

-25.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿880

$41.58 ₾109

-37.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,798

$119 ₾312

-30.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$105 ₾275

-32.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.6K

$423 ₾1,110

2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,054

$269 ₾705

-11.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$686 ₾1,798

19.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.3K

$374 ₾979

37.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.5K

$1,057 ₾2,770

81.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.5K

$762 ₾1,997

92.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$526 ₾1,379

10.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-57.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kobuleti: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $423 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 10% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Kobuleti. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Kobuleti – so Kobuleti 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 Kobuleti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kobuleti costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,331 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $242 in Kobuleti. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 37% cheaper in Kobuleti – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $888 in Kobuleti, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $888 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.