😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $732 in Mykolaiv, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,131 in Mykolaiv, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,530 in Mykolaiv, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Mykolaiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Mykolaiv are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Mykolaiv45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$9.68₴429
-79.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$24.58₴1,089
-24.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$7.34₴325
6.54%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.12₴49.70
74.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.48₴21.16
77.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.48₴21.17
-27.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$0.87₴38.64
144.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$1.65₴73.2
126.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.22₴54.0
40.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.61₴27.13
167.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.57₴69.6
-27.39%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$1.54₴68.3
25.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$10.01₴444
61.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$4.90₴217
-36.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$7.24₴321
50.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.09₴48.15
152.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.40₴61.9
-13.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.44₴63.7
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$2.09₴92.8
-23.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.86₴38.07
62.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.45₴20.05
160.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$1.01₴44.60
-34.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.50₴22.28
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$2.09₴92.5
124.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$3.68₴163
407.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$0.75₴33.12
140.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.07₴47.25
201.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.34₴15.26
164.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$9.57₴424
100.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$1.22₴54.1
15.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.49₴21.77
163.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.36₴105
232.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.33₴58.7
-4.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$31.0K₴1.4M
-31.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$17.0K₴753.0K
30.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$146₴6,468
-52.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$5.42₴240
159.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$5.32₴236
238.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$30.79₴1,364
33.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$8.26₴366
-15.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$3.70₴164
60.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$72.6₴3,215
312.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$3,458₴153.2K
332.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$49.06₴2,174
11.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$14.37₴637
86.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$65.8₴2,915
29.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$116₴5,143
-39.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$200₴8,846
114.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$115₴5,087
106.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$316₴14.0K
153.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$228₴10.1K
125.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$723₴32.0K
173.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$508₴22.5K
190.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$415₴18.4K
48.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
25
-80.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mykolaiv: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $200 in Mykolaiv. 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 49% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Mykolaiv. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $164 in Mykolaiv – so Mykolaiv 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 Mykolaiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Mykolaiv, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Mykolaiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,098 in Mykolaiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mykolaiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Mykolaiv?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $72.6 in Mykolaiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
Groceries cost about 50% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $732 in Mykolaiv, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mykolaiv costs $732 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Mykolaiv?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
If budget matters most, go with Mykolaiv. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared