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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $962 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,491 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,019 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Novokuznetsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Novokuznetsk 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$9.40 ₽686

-79.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$38.41 ₽2,803

-51.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.57 ₽406

40.39%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.35 ₽171

-17.02%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.12 ₽82.1

-24.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.48 ₽35.23

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.37 ₽99.8

55.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.47 ₽180

51.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.15 ₽83.7

48.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.71 ₽51.8

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.43 ₽105

-20.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.77 ₽129

9.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.73 ₽783

51.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.72 ₽345

-33.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.82 ₽644

23.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.75 ₽127

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.86 ₽136

-34.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.90 ₽139

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.76 ₽201

-42.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.79 ₽57.9

77.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.70 ₽51.4

67.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.41 ₽103

-53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.66 ₽47.86

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.00 ₽219

56.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.79 ₽714

90.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.01 ₽74.0

78.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.93 ₽141

67.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.49 ₽35.61

83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.86 ₽135

-24.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.35 ₽25.60

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.31 ₽461

24.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.73 ₽53.7

73.97%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.3K ₽2.5M

-38.02%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$35.7K ₽2.6M

-37.73%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$110 ₽8,052

-37.39%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$6.05 ₽442

132.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.62 ₽556

136.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$34.96 ₽2,552

17.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.15 ₽376

14.95%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$319 ₽23.3K

-6.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,058 ₽515.1K

111.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$69.2 ₽5,050

-20.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$44.28 ₽3,232

-39.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$115 ₽8,421

-26.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$107 ₽7,809

-34.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$443 ₽32.3K

-3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$304 ₽22.2K

-21.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$773 ₽56.4K

3.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$500 ₽36.5K

3.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$424 ₽31.0K

45.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.62

-63.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Novokuznetsk: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $443 in Novokuznetsk. 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 46% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Novokuznetsk – so Novokuznetsk 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 Novokuznetsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novokuznetsk costs about 11% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,443 in Novokuznetsk. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Novokuznetsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Novokuznetsk at $962. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novokuznetsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $962 in Novokuznetsk. 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, Novokuznetsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.