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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $963 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,470 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,977 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Novokuznetsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Novokuznetsk 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$9.28 ₽729

-78.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$37.89 ₽2,977

-51.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.82 ₽457

28.52%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.27 ₽178

-11.01%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.12 ₽87.9

-24.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.49 ₽38.42

-26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.41 ₽111

51.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.58 ₽203

39.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.11 ₽87.0

48.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.71 ₽56.0

121.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.38 ₽108

-13.77%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.80 ₽141

7.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.70 ₽841

51.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.78 ₽376

-37.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.89 ₽698

23.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.73 ₽136

56.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.81 ₽143

-35.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.97 ₽155

-14.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.69 ₽212

-40.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.80 ₽63.0

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.67 ₽53.0

79.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.41 ₽111

-52.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.67 ₽52.6

-16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.88 ₽226

61.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.66 ₽523

164.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.02 ₽79.8

82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.88 ₽148

75.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.49 ₽38.29

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.85 ₽145

-26.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.33 ₽25.56

306.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.40 ₽503

28.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.79 ₽61.8

54.43%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.6K ₽2.6M

-36.49%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$35.2K ₽2.8M

-36.02%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$111 ₽8,742

-36.49%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.86 ₽460

139.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$7.70 ₽605

127.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$35.48 ₽2,787

18.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.16 ₽405

14.73%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$329 ₽25.8K

-6.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,888 ₽541.1K

116.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$71.2 ₽5,592

-21.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$45.27 ₽3,556

-42.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$116 ₽9,081

-28.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$106 ₽8,312

-33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$441 ₽34.7K

-2.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$299 ₽23.5K

-20.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$770 ₽60.5K

6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$506 ₽39.8K

1.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,909 ₽228.6K

-34.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,910 ₽150.1K

-23.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$451 ₽35.4K

28.60%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Novokuznetsk: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $441 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 29% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $194 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 12% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,445 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 $18.00 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 25% cheaper in Novokuznetsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $963 in Novokuznetsk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $963 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.