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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,183 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,565 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Novorossiysk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Novorossiysk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Novorossiysk 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.42 ₽583

-73.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$19.17 ₽1,506

-4.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.96 ₽390

50.81%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.48 ₽195

-18.55%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.93 ₽73.4

-8.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.37 ₽28.75

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.25 ₽98.6

71.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.24 ₽97.1

189.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.99 ₽77.5

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.61 ₽48.16

157.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.43 ₽113

-16.78%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.44 ₽113

34.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.99 ₽628

102.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.79 ₽376

-37.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.23 ₽568

51.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.28 ₽101

111.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.62 ₽128

-27.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.46 ₽115

15.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.98 ₽156

-19.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.73 ₽57.5

89.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.53 ₽41.33

126.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.06 ₽83.1

-36.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.53 ₽41.64

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.49 ₽196

86.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.68 ₽524

163.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.93 ₽72.9

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.62 ₽127

103.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.63 ₽49.19

39.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$9.90 ₽778

95.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.88 ₽147

-27.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.24 ₽18.92

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.44 ₽506

27.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.76 ₽59.8

60.53%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.9K ₽1.6M

7.14%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$24.9K ₽2.0M

-9.50%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$96.8 ₽7,603

-26.98%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.60 ₽440

150.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$7.77 ₽610

125.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.73 ₽2,964

11.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$15.43 ₽1,212

-55.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.01 ₽394

18.16%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$292 ₽22.9K

5.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,880 ₽383.4K

204.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$35.00 ₽2,749

59.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$44.02 ₽3,458

-40.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$57.9 ₽4,545

43.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$74.8 ₽5,876

-5.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$388 ₽30.5K

11.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$250 ₽19.6K

-4.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$772 ₽60.7K

6.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$385 ₽30.2K

33.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,620 ₽205.8K

-26.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,989 ₽156.3K

-26.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,181 ₽92.8K

-50.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-61.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Novorossiysk: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $388 in Novorossiysk. 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 104% higher in Novorossiysk, 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 $19.00 in Novorossiysk. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $164 in Novorossiysk – so Novorossiysk 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 Novorossiysk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Novorossiysk, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,201 in Novorossiysk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novorossiysk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $292 in Novorossiysk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $800 in Novorossiysk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Novorossiysk costs $800 versus $861 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 Novorossiysk. 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.