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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,026 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,542 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,057 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Novoshakhtinsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Novoshakhtinsk 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$9.43 ₽790

-77.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$36.93 ₽3,093

-46.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.08 ₽509

-3.78%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.59 ₽217

-32.05%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.11 ₽93.3

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.52 ₽43.78

-36.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.86 ₽156

32.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.88 ₽241

34.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.17 ₽98.1

62.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.72 ₽60.1

131.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.38 ₽115

-2.17%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.58 ₽132

35.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$10.82 ₽906

46.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.20 ₽436

-45.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$10.03 ₽840

4.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.73 ₽145

37.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.84 ₽154

-41.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.85 ₽155

-17.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$2.86 ₽240

-47.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.84 ₽70.5

52.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.64 ₽53.7

71.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.34 ₽113

-48.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.69 ₽58.2

-28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.89 ₽242

47.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$7.31 ₽612

129.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.98 ₽82.3

69.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.01 ₽168

39.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.46 ₽38.88

95.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$21.80 ₽1,826

151.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$2.18 ₽183

-44.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.41 ₽34.07

31.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$5.36 ₽449

-55.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.85 ₽71.0

68.24%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$31.0K ₽2.6M

-32.00%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$30.7K ₽2.6M

-11.74%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$115 ₽9,661

-43.88%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$6.20 ₽519

112.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$8.53 ₽714

127.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$36.21 ₽3,032

8.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$5.33 ₽446

24.20%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$300 ₽25.2K

168.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$6,960 ₽582.8K

117.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$61.7 ₽5,169

-11.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$46.27 ₽3,875

-45.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$108 ₽9,005

-14.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$102 ₽8,532

-26.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$446 ₽37.4K

4.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$318 ₽26.6K

-11.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$793 ₽66.4K

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$550 ₽46.1K

-5.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,115 ₽177.1K

-6.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,475 ₽123.5K

-0.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Novoshakhtinsk: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $446 in Novoshakhtinsk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Novoshakhtinsk. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $202 in Novoshakhtinsk – so Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novoshakhtinsk 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,539 in Novoshakhtinsk. 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.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $300 in Novoshakhtinsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Novoshakhtinsk – 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 $920, than in Novoshakhtinsk at $1,026. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novoshakhtinsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $1,026 in Novoshakhtinsk. 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, Novoshakhtinsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.