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 $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $966 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,476 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,987 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Makhachkala 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.5

$15.62 ₽1,188

-87.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿584

$38.69 ₽2,943

-52.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$5.19 ₽395

47.40%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.5

$3.24 ₽246

-40.74%

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

$0.84 ฿26.97

$0.84 ₽63.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.42

$0.35 ₽26.81

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.2

$1.37 ₽104

59.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$2.57 ₽195

47.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.5

$1.51 ₽115

8.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.0

$0.65 ₽49.55

149.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.98

$1.38 ₽105

-16.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.2

$1.38 ₽105

40.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿511

$2.99 ₽227

433.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.5

$4.81 ₽366

-35.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿355

$5.05 ₽384

119.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.8

$1.82 ₽138

48.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.80

$1.77 ₽134

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.7

$2.80 ₽213

-38.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$1.91 ₽145

-15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.66

$0.82 ₽62.2

69.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.81

$0.49 ₽36.98

134.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.83

$2.48 ₽189

-71.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.65

$0.60 ₽45.39

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$3.23 ₽245

41.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿605

$8.61 ₽655

119.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

$1.00 ₽76.3

82.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$1.86 ₽142

72.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.24

$0.42 ₽32.02

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.30

$2.23 ₽170

-36.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.71

$0.22 ₽16.69

490.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿263

$6.50 ₽494

26.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.29

$0.71 ₽53.9

73.24%

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

$21.2K ฿678.9K

$35.5K ₽2.7M

-40.33%

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

$22.3K ฿715.3K

$30.0K ₽2.3M

-25.55%

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

$69.9 ฿2,240

$54.3 ₽4,130

28.67%

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

$14.07 ฿451

$6.32 ₽481

122.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿567

$9.94 ₽756

78.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,328

$47.60 ₽3,620

-13.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$5.02 ₽382

14.34%

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

$299 ฿9,593

$169 ₽12.9K

76.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿481.2K

$6,894 ₽524.3K

117.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,758

$103 ₽7,818

-46.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿845

$44.15 ₽3,358

-40.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,714

$104 ₽7,877

-18.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,236

$145 ₽11.1K

-52.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$498 ₽37.9K

-14.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,718

$304 ₽23.1K

-20.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.0K

$700 ₽53.2K

15.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$411 ₽31.3K

21.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

$1,683 ₽128.0K

20.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

$1,217 ₽92.6K

25.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

$621 ₽47.3K

2.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

-55.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $498 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 3% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $168 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

Makhachkala costs about 11% 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 $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,448 in Makhachkala. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Makhachkala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Makhachkala – 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 $872, than in Makhachkala at $966. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makhachkala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $966 in Makhachkala. 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, Makhachkala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.