Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nikopol' Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nikopol'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Nikopol', rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Nikopol', rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,411 in Nikopol', rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Nikopol', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nikopol' are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nikopol' 47% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 āļŋ64.0
$7.27 â‚ī321
-73.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 āļŋ615
$27.12 â‚ī1,195
-30.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 āļŋ259
$6.13 â‚ī270
29.20%
Cappuccino
$1.91 āļŋ62.6
$1.28 â‚ī56.3
49.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 āļŋ27.41
$0.62 â‚ī27.14
35.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 āļŋ11.51
$0.41 â‚ī18.06
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 āļŋ72.1
$0.97 â‚ī42.93
127.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 āļŋ124
$1.54 â‚ī67.9
146.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 āļŋ53.5
$0.98 â‚ī43.37
67.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 āļŋ53.1
$0.50 â‚ī22.09
224.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 āļŋ38.62
$1.23 â‚ī54.4
-4.07%
Eggs
$2.01 āļŋ65.8
$1.61 â‚ī71.0
24.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 āļŋ520
$3.43 â‚ī151
363.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 āļŋ98.5
$2.85 â‚ī126
5.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 āļŋ352
$6.48 â‚ī286
66.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 āļŋ85.5
$0.90 â‚ī39.50
190.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 āļŋ39.88
$1.62 â‚ī71.3
-24.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 āļŋ55.7
$1.93 â‚ī85.3
-11.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 āļŋ51.5
$2.25 â‚ī99.1
-29.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 āļŋ43.14
$0.62 â‚ī27.43
112.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ38.23
$0.35 â‚ī15.32
234.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 āļŋ21.98
$0.99 â‚ī43.75
-32.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 āļŋ18.32
$0.45 â‚ī19.95
24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 āļŋ148
$2.48 â‚ī109
82.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 āļŋ595
$4.61 â‚ī203
294.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 āļŋ60.0
$0.77 â‚ī33.74
137.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 āļŋ106
$1.30 â‚ī57.5
148.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 āļŋ29.00
$0.38 â‚ī16.64
134.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 āļŋ634
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 āļŋ44.20
$1.49 â‚ī65.7
-9.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 āļŋ44.05
$0.23 â‚ī10.05
486.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 āļŋ270
$2.97 â‚ī131
177.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 āļŋ41.64
$1.38 â‚ī60.8
-7.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K āļŋ691.8K
$27.2K â‚ī1.2M
-22.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K āļŋ735.3K
$23.4K â‚ī1.0M
-3.89%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 āļŋ2,294
$90.6 â‚ī3,992
-22.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 āļŋ450
$4.73 â‚ī209
191.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 āļŋ575
$4.86 â‚ī214
262.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 āļŋ1,360
$24.40 â‚ī1,075
70.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 āļŋ216
$9.81 â‚ī432
-32.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 āļŋ189
$3.65 â‚ī161
58.36%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 āļŋ10.0K
$358 â‚ī15.8K
-14.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K āļŋ484.8K
$3,139 â‚ī138.3K
372.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 āļŋ1,778
$58.0 â‚ī2,555
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 āļŋ855
$41.25 â‚ī1,818
-36.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 āļŋ2,764
$81.9 â‚ī3,608
3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 āļŋ2,270
$105 â‚ī4,612
-33.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 āļŋ13.9K
$267 â‚ī11.8K
58.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 āļŋ7,788
$203 â‚ī8,956
17.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 āļŋ27.0K
$438 â‚ī19.3K
88.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 āļŋ16.8K
$314 â‚ī13.8K
64.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 āļŋ67.0K
$1,002 â‚ī44.2K
104.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 āļŋ49.8K
$749 â‚ī33.0K
103.33%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nikopol'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 āļŋ20.8K
$399 â‚ī17.6K
59.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
17
-70.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nikopol': April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $267 in Nikopol'. 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 59% 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 $27.00 in Nikopol'. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $131 in Nikopol' – so Nikopol' 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 Nikopol': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nikopol'?
Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Nikopol', 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 Nikopol'?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,071 in Nikopol'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nikopol'?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nikopol', especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Nikopol'?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $27.00 in Nikopol'. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Nikopol'?
Groceries cost about 86% 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 Nikopol'?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $714 in Nikopol', leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nikopol'?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nikopol' costs $714 versus $852 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 Nikopol'?
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 Nikopol'?
If budget matters most, go with Nikopol'. 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

Similar cities