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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $684 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,163 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,641 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Makhachkala 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$11.61 ₽997

-82.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$34.70 ₽2,978

-43.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.56 ₽392

23.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.68 ₽230

-32.46%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.73 ₽62.7

-2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.32 ₽27.54

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.32 ₽113

48.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.48 ₽41.40

212.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.17 ₽100

14.53%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.58 ₽135

43.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$8.36 ₽717

94.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.07 ₽521

-51.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.82 ₽671

27.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.21 ₽104

112.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.79 ₽154

-40.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.14 ₽183

-24.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.96 ₽254

-48.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.81 ₽69.8

56.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.41 ₽35.33

160.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.88 ₽75.5

-42.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.92 ₽250

43.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$3.50 ₽301

410.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.48 ₽41.40

252.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.36 ₽30.49

158.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$2.29 ₽197

-46.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.76 ₽65.4

85.53%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$32.0K ₽2.7M

-32.91%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$28.0K ₽2.4M

-2.23%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$53.4 ₽4,584

-27.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.65 ₽399

44.95%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$208 ₽17.9K

273.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$380 ₽32.6K

28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$286 ₽24.5K

1.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$829 ₽71.2K

7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$648 ₽55.6K

-20.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,494 ₽128.2K

30.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,050 ₽90.1K

40.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$595 ₽51.0K

1.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-69.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $380 in Makhachkala. 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 1% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $35.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $171 in Makhachkala – so Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Makhachkala, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,026 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, 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 $35.00 in Makhachkala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Makhachkala 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. Makhachkala costs $684 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 Makhachkala. 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.