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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $851 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $890 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $930 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Nizhnevartovsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nizhnevartovsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Nizhnevartovsk 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.17 ₽98.6

73.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.85 ₽71.2

88.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.06 ₽89.4

33.96%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.32 ₽111

65.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.61 ₽891

49.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.97 ₽502

-48.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.28 ₽1,200

-30.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.87 ₽157

40.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.85 ₽239

-46.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.95 ₽80.0

30.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.60 ₽50.3

88.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.02 ₽85.8

-50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.06 ₽594

154.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.94 ₽79.3

80.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.42 ₽120

104.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.45 ₽37.67

108.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.30 ₽193

-46.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.76 ₽63.6

89.47%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$213 ₽17.9K

-69.51%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$6.78 ₽570

96.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$10.64 ₽894

95.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$35.26 ₽2,964

14.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.54 ₽382

47.80%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$40.97 ₽3,444

-39.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$46.51 ₽3,909

99.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$52.3 ₽4,396

43.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$314 ₽26.4K

-8.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$970 ₽81.5K

104.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-72.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nizhnevartovsk: September 8, 2026

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 Nizhnevartovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Nizhnevartovsk, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,276 in Nizhnevartovsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $851 in Nizhnevartovsk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nizhnevartovsk, where all-in costs run around $851, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Nizhnevartovsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nizhnevartovsk costs $851 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Nizhnevartovsk. 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.