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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Kyiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,494 in Kyiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,998 in Kyiv, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Kyiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kyiv are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kyiv 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.58 ₴380

-77.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$31.03 ₴1,376

-39.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.14 ₴272

27.36%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.56 ₴69.3

25.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.68 ₴30.10

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.42 ₴18.54

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.08 ₴47.76

97.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.92 ₴85.0

94.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.24 ₴55.0

37.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.83 ₴36.75

96.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.83 ₴81.1

-37.70%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.05 ₴90.7

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.87 ₴438

64.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.34 ₴192

-28.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.91 ₴351

37.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.03 ₴45.48

166.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.56 ₴69.0

-22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.79 ₴79.6

-9.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.27 ₴100

-29.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.86 ₴38.22

62.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.56 ₴24.83

108.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.43 ₴63.4

-53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.57 ₴25.36

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.98 ₴132

57.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.81 ₴258

221.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.83 ₴36.94

116.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.57 ₴69.5

105.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.16 ₴7.22

462.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$9.60 ₴426

100.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.00 ₴88.8

-29.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.35 ₴15.52

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.36 ₴193

79.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.42 ₴62.9

-10.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$30.7K ₴1.4M

-30.72%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.7K ₴1.1M

-9.99%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$112 ₴4,946

-38.07%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.59 ₴248

151.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.16 ₴317

151.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$37.24 ₴1,652

10.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.34 ₴725

-57.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.80 ₴213

23.33%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$389 ₴17.3K

-23.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,847 ₴348.0K

90.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$68.6 ₴3,042

-20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$36.29 ₴1,609

-26.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$103 ₴4,565

-17.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$112 ₴4,965

-36.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$599 ₴26.5K

-28.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$357 ₴15.8K

-33.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,293 ₴57.3K

-38.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$617 ₴27.4K

-16.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,609 ₴115.7K

-24.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,119 ₴49.6K

31.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$770 ₴34.2K

-19.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.34

-74.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kyiv: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $599 in Kyiv. 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 25% higher in Kyiv, 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 $31.00 in Kyiv. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $179 in Kyiv – so Kyiv 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 Kyiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kyiv costs about 14% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,485 in Kyiv. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $389 in Kyiv. 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 Kyiv – 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 $866, than in Kyiv at $990. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kyiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $990 in Kyiv. 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, Kyiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.