Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Novorossiysk

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Novorossiysk: $936 and $952 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Novorossiysk, Russia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Novorossiysk
🇷🇺 Russia
$952
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Novorossiysk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Novorossiysk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $952 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Novorossiysk $952

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,391 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Novorossiysk $1,391

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,831 in Novorossiysk, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Novorossiysk $1,831

Chiang Mai and Novorossiysk have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chiang Mai and Novorossiysk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Novorossiysk 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.5
$12.35 ₽988
-81.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿640
$37.08 ₽2,966
-48.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$5.59 ₽447
-0.72%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.4
$2.82 ₽225
-40.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.51
$1.12 ₽90.0
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.29
$0.35 ₽28.12
-11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$1.27 ₽101
85.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿123
$3.00 ₽240
22.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.16 ₽92.7
68.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.41
$0.65 ₽51.9
121.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.97
$1.21 ₽96.4
9.92%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$0.97 ₽77.8
135.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿554
$8.70 ₽696
89.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$4.70 ₽376
-40.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$10.15 ₽812
-8.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.3
$0.85 ₽67.8
176.47%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.75
$1.58 ₽126
-38.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$1.48 ₽118
8.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.02 ₽162
-25.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.06
$0.64 ₽51.0
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.14
$0.46 ₽36.69
139.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.79
$0.54 ₽43.00
31.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.34
$0.52 ₽41.91
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.87 ₽230
44.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿590
$6.03 ₽482
190.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.4
$0.95 ₽75.9
69.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$1.62 ₽130
71.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.27
$0.56 ₽45.08
55.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,823
$20.65 ₽1,651
161.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.00
$1.27 ₽102
-8.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.78
$0.22 ₽17.57
140.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$2.95 ₽236
-17.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$0.81 ₽65.0
79.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿709.7K
$22.2K ₽1.8M
-5.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.9K
$28.2K ₽2.3M
-4.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,095
$127 ₽10.2K
-51.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$5.04 ₽403
141.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿678
$9.33 ₽746
115.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,257
$27.01 ₽2,161
38.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$14.27 ₽1,141
-73.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$5.09 ₽407
27.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$605 ₽48.4K
21.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿497.6K
$4,193 ₽335.4K
252.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,799
$58.7 ₽4,691
-9.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿830
$26.47 ₽2,117
-6.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,083
$62.4 ₽4,994
46.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,424
$75.0 ₽5,999
-4.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$409 ₽32.7K
17.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$312 ₽25.0K
-1.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$518 ₽41.4K
94.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.3K
$397 ₽31.8K
59.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.6K
$2,385 ₽190.8K
-0.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,698 ₽135.8K
-6.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Novorossiysk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$1,092 ₽87.4K
-46.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
21.33
-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Novorossiysk: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Novorossiysk
$312 1.1% $3.5
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Novorossiysk
$168 28.4% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Novorossiysk
$100 7.8% $8.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Novorossiysk
$141 49.7% $47
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Novorossiysk
$168 116% $90
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Novorossiysk
$25 58.8% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Novorossiysk
$37 26% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $409 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 85% higher in Novorossiysk. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $37 in Novorossiysk. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $168 in Novorossiysk – so Novorossiysk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇷🇺 Novorossiysk
🕒 Local time
08:29 8:29 AM
04:29 4:29 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
275,795
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 79.99 RUB (100 RUB = 1.25 USD). 1 EUR = 89.04 RUB (100 RUB = 1.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Novorossiysk 6,290 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Novorossiysk

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Novorossiysk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,428 in Novorossiysk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Novorossiysk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novorossiysk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $409 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Novorossiysk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $37 in Novorossiysk. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Novorossiysk?
Public transport costs about 62% less in Novorossiysk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Novorossiysk?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $952 in Novorossiysk. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Novorossiysk?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $952 in Novorossiysk. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Novorossiysk?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novorossiysk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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