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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,259 in Korolyov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,831 in Korolyov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,403 in Korolyov, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 25% cheaper than Korolyov, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Korolyov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Korolyov 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$11.47 ₽984

-81.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$58.0 ₽4,974

-66.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.10 ₽609

-20.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.37 ₽203

-23.63%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.67 ₽57.5

5.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.42 ₽36.46

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$0.80 ₽68.4

180.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.38 ₽118

163.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.18 ₽101

66.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.88 ₽75.6

70.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.14 ₽98.1

17.54%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.24 ₽106

82.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$11.72 ₽1,005

38.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.41 ₽464

-45.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.77 ₽1,010

-15.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.92 ₽165

33.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.47 ₽126

-27.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.77 ₽152

-9.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.73 ₽234

-44.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.61 ₽52.5

108.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.64 ₽54.9

67.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.94 ₽80.8

-23.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.81 ₽69.2

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.86 ₽245

46.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$9.23 ₽792

93.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.12 ₽96.1

50.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.37 ₽203

19.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.97 ₽83.6

-4.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.50 ₽129

-18.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.70 ₽60.1

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$9.05 ₽777

-73.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.84 ₽71.9

67.86%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$20.5K ₽1.8M

4.42%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$26.8K ₽2.3M

1.96%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$121 ₽10.4K

-47.36%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$4.54 ₽390

183.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$7.95 ₽682

154.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$140 ₽12.0K

-72.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.18 ₽445

30.12%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$758 ₽65.1K

2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$22.0K ₽1.9M

-33.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$58.2 ₽4,998

-6.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$29.02 ₽2,490

-12.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$93.9 ₽8,054

0.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$170 ₽14.6K

-56.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$517 ₽44.4K

-5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$439 ₽37.7K

-34.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$788 ₽67.6K

13.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$525 ₽45.1K

-1.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,335 ₽200.4K

-16.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$2,066 ₽177.3K

-28.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$954 ₽81.8K

-36.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

17.5

-68.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $517 in Korolyov. 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 58% higher in Korolyov, 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 $58.0 in Korolyov. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Korolyov – so Korolyov 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 Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Korolyov costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,888 in Korolyov. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $58.0 in Korolyov. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Korolyov – 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 $947, than in Korolyov at $1,259. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Korolyov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,259 in Korolyov. 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, Korolyov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.