Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Magadan

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,144 in Magadan, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
54

Cost of Living Index in Magadan
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Magadan Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Magadan

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,144

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Magadan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Magadan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,144 in Magadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Magadan $1,144

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,772 in Magadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Magadan $1,772

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,401 in Magadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Magadan $2,401

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Magadan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Magadan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Magadan 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$12.42 ₽1,017

-82.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿624

$41.93 ₽3,435

-55.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$7.29 ₽597

-23.18%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$2.89 ₽237

-42.56%

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

$0.65 ฿21.69

$1.18 ₽96.7

-44.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.22

$0.57 ₽46.81

-47.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

$1.82 ₽149

27.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.49 ₽286

5.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$1.21 ₽99.1

66.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.21

$0.79 ₽64.4

78.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.67

$1.47 ₽120

-5.44%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$1.66 ₽136

42.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$12.13 ₽993

36.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.5

$5.36 ₽439

-50.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

$10.17 ₽833

-11.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.4

$1.79 ₽146

34.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.91

$1.86 ₽152

-44.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.78 ₽146

-6.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$2.65 ₽217

-41.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.50

$0.85 ₽69.3

45.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.44

$0.64 ₽52.0

70.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.54

$1.20 ₽98.2

-36.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.24

$0.61 ₽49.96

-16.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$3.50 ₽287

17.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿601

$7.83 ₽642

128.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.08 ₽88.8

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.6

$2.23 ₽183

26.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.33

$0.54 ₽43.92

72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,773

$25.33 ₽2,075

108.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.45

$2.47 ₽202

-52.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$0.37 ₽30.65

-54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$5.51 ₽451

-67.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.38

$0.89 ₽73.2

65.17%

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

$21.0K ฿704.5K

$52.9K ₽4.3M

-60.26%

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

$26.5K ฿889.1K

$41.0K ₽3.4M

-35.34%

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

$62.6 ฿2,098

$148 ₽12.2K

-57.86%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$6.41 ₽525

80.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$8.09 ₽663

150.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,270

$33.50 ₽2,744

13.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$26.55 ₽2,175

-86.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$6.22 ₽509

4.66%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$364 ₽29.9K

99.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿555.7K

$5,702 ₽467.1K

190.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,795

$91.1 ₽7,459

-41.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$58.0 ₽4,749

-57.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,031

$148 ₽12.2K

-39.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,413

$120 ₽9,823

-39.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$441 ₽36.1K

9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$328 ₽26.9K

-5.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$918 ₽75.2K

15.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$571 ₽46.8K

15.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

$2,122 ₽173.9K

13.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.9K

$1,479 ₽121.2K

8.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.33

-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Magadan: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Magadan

$328 28.7% 5.9% $18

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Magadan

$208 18.2% 12.1% $29

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Magadan

$188 16.4% 73.4% $79

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Magadan

$163 14.3% 72.5% $68

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Magadan

$179 15.7% 134% $102

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Magadan

$32 2.8% 45.8% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Magadan

$46 4% 9.7% $5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $441 in Magadan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $42 in Magadan. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $208 in Magadan – so Magadan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Magadan

🕒 Local time

00:02 12:02 AM

04:02 4:02 AM

4 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

89,193

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 RUB = 1.22 USD

100 RUB = 1.09 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.92 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 92.01 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Magadan 6,110 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Magadan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Magadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Magadan costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,716 in Magadan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $441 in Magadan. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $364 in Magadan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Magadan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,144 in Magadan. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,144 in Magadan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.