Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mykolaiv

For one person, living is cheaper in Mykolaiv: $717 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Mykolaiv
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$717
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Mykolaiv actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $717 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Mykolaiv $717

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,102 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Mykolaiv $1,102

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,487 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Mykolaiv $1,487

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Mykolaiv, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Mykolaiv are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Mykolaiv 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$8.69 ₴390
-73.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$22.07 ₴991
-13.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$5.39 ₴242
3.71%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$1.12 ₴50.1
53.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$0.56 ₴25.10
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$0.41 ₴18.20
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$0.79 ₴35.47
198.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$1.55 ₴69.6
151.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$1.21 ₴54.4
69.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.73 ₴32.74
91.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$1.48 ₴66.6
-13.51%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$1.74 ₴78.3
29.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$9.77 ₴439
73.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$4.39 ₴197
-37.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
$7.50 ₴337
24.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$1.07 ₴48.09
124.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$1.55 ₴69.4
-34.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$1.41 ₴63.1
14.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$2.11 ₴94.8
-27.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.86 ₴38.74
48.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.48 ₴21.62
131.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$1.02 ₴45.60
-29.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.47 ₴20.90
10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$2.73 ₴122
58.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$3.55 ₴160
399.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$0.62 ₴27.69
162.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$1.19 ₴53.6
139.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.34 ₴15.38
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$11.25 ₴505
379.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$1.58 ₴71.1
-25.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.31 ₴14.13
83.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$4.34 ₴195
-45.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$1.63 ₴73.0
-11.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$28.9K ₴1.3M
-29.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$19.3K ₴865.0K
37.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$155 ₴6,936
-59.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$5.88 ₴264
108.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$7.01 ₴315
184.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$25.78 ₴1,157
47.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$8.25 ₴370
-54.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$3.36 ₴151
99.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$243 ₴10.9K
227.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$4,002 ₴179.6K
270.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$41.83 ₴1,877
27.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$24.69 ₴1,108
1.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$59.9 ₴2,689
52.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$101 ₴4,543
-27.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$197 ₴8,854
135.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$126 ₴5,651
141.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$358 ₴16.1K
155.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$258 ₴11.6K
113.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$730 ₴32.8K
162.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$502 ₴22.5K
186.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mykolaiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$425 ₴19.1K
40.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
16
-65.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Mykolaiv: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Mykolaiv
$126 58.7% $179
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Mykolaiv
$163 31.6% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Mykolaiv
$102 6.5% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Mykolaiv
$167 77% $73
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Mykolaiv
$110 39.2% $31
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Mykolaiv
$16 74.3% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Mykolaiv
$33 36.7% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $197 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 40% 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 $22.00 in Mykolaiv. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $163 in Mykolaiv – so Mykolaiv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇦 Mykolaiv
🕒 Local time
23:48 11:48 PM
19:48 7:48 PM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
480,080
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 44.89 UAH (100 UAH = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 50.46 UAH (100 UAH = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Mykolaiv 6,760 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Mykolaiv

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 Mykolaiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Mykolaiv, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Mykolaiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,075 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 in Mykolaiv?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $243 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 in Mykolaiv?
Groceries cost about 46% 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 $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Mykolaiv?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mykolaiv, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Mykolaiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Mykolaiv?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mykolaiv costs $717 versus $938 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 to 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.

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