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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $997 in Korolyov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,403 in Korolyov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,808 in Korolyov, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Korolyov, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Korolyov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Korolyov 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.84 ₽694

-77.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$20.46 ₽1,607

-10.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.27 ₽414

41.94%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.04 ₽160

-0.98%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.86 ₽67.2

-1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.39 ₽30.70

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$4.15 ₽326

-48.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.85 ₽145

94.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.19 ₽93.7

38.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.42 ₽32.80

273.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.31 ₽103

-9.16%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.62 ₽127

19.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.81 ₽928

37.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.49 ₽431

-45.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.98 ₽627

37.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.94 ₽152

39.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.69 ₽132

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.37 ₽186

-28.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.99 ₽313

-59.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.41 ₽32.19

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.84 ₽66.0

42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.65 ₽129

-59.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.52 ₽41.12

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.46 ₽193

88.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.46 ₽822

68.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.08 ₽84.8

72.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.47 ₽115

124.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.75 ₽58.7

17.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$22.46 ₽1,764

-13.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.58 ₽202

-47.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.47 ₽36.97

185.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.91 ₽622

3.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.77 ₽60.7

58.44%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$37.6K ₽3.0M

-43.28%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$20.6K ₽1.6M

9.62%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$123 ₽9,683

-42.66%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.53 ₽434

153.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$7.91 ₽621

121.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$31.58 ₽2,481

33.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$15.51 ₽1,219

-55.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.34 ₽420

10.86%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$691 ₽54.3K

-55.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$14.4K ₽1.1M

3.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$57.9 ₽4,547

-3.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$25.60 ₽2,011

1.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$38.34 ₽3,012

116.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$57.6 ₽4,523

22.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$450 ₽35.3K

-3.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$367 ₽28.8K

-34.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$698 ₽54.8K

17.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$488 ₽38.3K

4.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,644 ₽207.7K

-27.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,315 ₽181.9K

-36.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,055 ₽82.8K

-45.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $450 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 82% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Korolyov. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $209 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 16% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,496 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $691 in Korolyov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Korolyov – 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 $997 in Korolyov, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $997 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.