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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Kobuleti, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,308 in Kobuleti, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,757 in Kobuleti, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kobuleti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kobuleti are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kobuleti 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.67 ₾23.01

-77.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.77 ₾79.0

-37.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.11 ₾21.54

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.69 ₾7.13

-27.51%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.82 ₾2.17

3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.42 ₾1.13

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.07 ₾5.49

2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.23 ₾5.92

67.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.82 ₾4.82

-6.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 ₾1.36

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.55 ₾4.12

-26.45%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.37 ₾6.30

-18.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.54 ₾20.03

114.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.25 ₾13.93

-40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.88 ₾23.58

22.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.07 ₾2.85

157.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.55 ₾4.11

-21.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.42 ₾3.76

14.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.66 ₾4.41

-4.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.67 ₾1.77

108.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.63 ₾1.68

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.18 ₾3.15

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.60 ₾1.60

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.96 ₾7.85

58.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.72 ₾15.18

226.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.30 ₾3.44

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.90 ₾5.04

70.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 ₾0.54

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.93 ₾29.03

75.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.42 ₾3.76

-0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.57 ₾1.50

126.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.87 ₾7.61

173.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.13 ₾3.01

12.39%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$14.5K ₾38.5K

46.71%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

20.26%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$73.6 ₾195

-6.15%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.16 ₾29.63

26.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$17.34 ₾46.05

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.61 ₾14.90

5.53%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$243 ₾645

23.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,905 ₾7,714

414.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$75.4 ₾200

-27.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$41.75 ₾111

-35.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$119 ₾316

-28.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$105 ₾280

-33.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$440 ₾1,168

-2.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$267 ₾709

-11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$681 ₾1,807

17.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$369 ₾981

39.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,042 ₾2,768

89.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$778 ₾2,066

89.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$525 ₾1,394

17.62%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kobuleti: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $440 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 18% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Kobuleti. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $180 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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kobuleti, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,287 in Kobuleti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kobuleti, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $243 in Kobuleti. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kobuleti, where all-in costs run around $858, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Kobuleti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kobuleti costs $858 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Kobuleti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.