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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,152 in Murom, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,790 in Murom, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,427 in Murom, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Murom, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Murom are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Murom 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$12.77 ₽958

-84.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$58.4 ₽4,378

-68.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$6.24 ₽468

20.19%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$3.30 ₽248

-41.52%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.40 ₽105

-44.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.63 ₽47.32

-49.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.40 ₽105

53.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$4.46 ₽335

-16.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.29 ₽96.9

32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.88 ₽66.3

77.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.70 ₽128

-30.59%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.94 ₽145

2.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$13.11 ₽984

22.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$5.93 ₽445

-46.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$12.04 ₽903

-9.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.95 ₽146

34.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$2.12 ₽159

-44.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$2.38 ₽178

-30.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$4.08 ₽306

-62.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.99 ₽73.9

39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.83 ₽62.4

40.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.65 ₽124

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.81 ₽61.1

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.14 ₽236

43.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$10.59 ₽795

72.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.13 ₽84.7

59.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.42 ₽182

31.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.36 ₽26.84

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$2.47 ₽185

-42.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.45 ₽33.73

191.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$8.03 ₽603

0.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.75 ₽56.1

70.67%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$38.4K ₽2.9M

-44.57%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$36.0K ₽2.7M

-39.79%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$150 ₽11.3K

-53.99%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$7.99 ₽599

74.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.82 ₽586

129.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$36.00 ₽2,701

17.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$6.19 ₽464

-4.36%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$322 ₽24.1K

-7.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$7,039 ₽528.2K

110.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$88.1 ₽6,607

-36.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$52.4 ₽3,934

-48.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$133 ₽9,986

-36.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$165 ₽12.4K

-56.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$438 ₽32.9K

-0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$303 ₽22.7K

-20.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$769 ₽57.7K

3.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$518 ₽38.9K

-3.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$1,812 ₽136.0K

10.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,286 ₽96.5K

19.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

-79.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Murom: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $438 in Murom. 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $58 in Murom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Murom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Murom costs about 36% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,728 in Murom. 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 $58.0 in Murom. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Murom, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Murom at $1,152. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Murom it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,152 in Murom. 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, Murom makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.