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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $915 in Kostroma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,420 in Kostroma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,925 in Kostroma, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Kostroma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kostroma 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$17.27 ₽1,483

-87.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$51.7 ₽4,438

-62.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.13 ₽612

-20.76%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.86 ₽245

-36.71%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$1.46 ₽125

-51.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.66 ₽56.7

-51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.72 ₽148

30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.45 ₽210

48.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.15 ₽99.1

70.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.55 ₽47.51

172.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.32 ₽113

1.52%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.21 ₽104

86.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$4.17 ₽357

289.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.47 ₽298

-14.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$3.78 ₽325

162.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$0.83 ₽70.9

209.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.52 ₽130

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.93 ₽80.0

73.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.34 ₽115

13.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.74 ₽63.2

71.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.42 ₽36.27

154.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.02 ₽87.5

-29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.65 ₽55.4

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.05 ₽262

37.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.06 ₽434

253.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.12 ₽95.9

50.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.96 ₽168

44.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.37 ₽31.54

151.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$20.39 ₽1,750

164.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.37 ₽118

-10.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.14 ₽12.37

314.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.01 ₽602

-65.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.76 ₽65.5

85.53%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$23.5K ₽2.0M

-8.92%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$26.4K ₽2.3M

3.42%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$125 ₽10.7K

-48.88%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$6.36 ₽546

102.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$7.64 ₽655

164.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$28.93 ₽2,483

33.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$17.43 ₽1,496

-77.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$6.96 ₽598

-3.16%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$300 ₽25.8K

159.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$6,591 ₽565.6K

121.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$63.6 ₽5,460

-14.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$52.6 ₽4,516

-51.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$106 ₽9,138

-11.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$102 ₽8,756

-28.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$369 ₽31.6K

32.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$211 ₽18.1K

37.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$579 ₽49.7K

54.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$345 ₽29.6K

49.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,755 ₽150.7K

11.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$856 ₽73.5K

72.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$902 ₽77.4K

-33.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-72.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kostroma: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $369 in Kostroma. 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 50% higher in Kostroma, 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 $52.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $127 in Kostroma – so Kostroma 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 Kostroma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Kostroma, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,373 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $300 in Kostroma. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 90% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kostroma 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. Kostroma costs $915 versus $947 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 Kostroma. 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.