Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Novy Urengoy

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,097 in Novy Urengoy, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
54

Cost of Living Index in Novy Urengoy
Learn more

Novy Urengoy Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Novy Urengoy

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,097

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Novy Urengoy

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 Novy Urengoy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,097 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Novy Urengoy $1,097

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,711 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Novy Urengoy $1,711

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,326 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Novy Urengoy $2,326

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Novy Urengoy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Novy Urengoy are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Novy Urengoy 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$12.50 ₽1,023

-82.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

$41.07 ₽3,361

-54.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$6.47 ₽530

-13.45%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.95 ₽241

-43.73%

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

$0.65 ฿21.73

$1.21 ₽99.1

-46.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.24

$0.61 ₽50.3

-50.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.0

$1.81 ₽148

28.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.01 ₽246

21.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.7

$1.16 ₽94.9

74.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.29

$0.83 ₽67.6

69.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.75

$1.52 ₽124

-8.55%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.5

$1.38 ₽113

71.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$10.69 ₽875

54.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.7

$5.43 ₽445

-50.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$9.80 ₽802

-7.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$1.95 ₽160

23.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.98

$2.08 ₽170

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

$1.69 ₽138

-1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$3.29 ₽269

-52.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.57

$0.83 ₽68.3

49.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.50

$0.58 ₽47.08

87.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

$1.39 ₽114

-45.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.27

$0.62 ₽50.3

-17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$3.52 ₽288

17.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

$8.97 ₽734

99.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

$1.30 ₽106

24.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.8

$2.29 ₽187

23.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.39

$0.51 ₽41.66

82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,777

$25.28 ₽2,069

109.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.52

$2.29 ₽188

-48.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.31 ₽25.62

-45.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$6.39 ₽523

-71.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.47

$0.82 ₽66.8

79.27%

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

$21.0K ฿705.8K

$49.1K ₽4.0M

-57.18%

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

$26.5K ฿890.7K

$41.2K ₽3.4M

-35.70%

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

$62.6 ฿2,101

$149 ₽12.2K

-58.09%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$6.52 ₽533

77.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿682

$7.72 ₽632

162.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,272

$41.73 ₽3,415

-9.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$27.14 ₽2,221

-86.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$5.64 ₽462

15.43%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$304 ₽24.8K

139.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.7K

$7,150 ₽585.1K

131.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,798

$93.4 ₽7,647

-42.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿833

$60.8 ₽4,974

-59.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,036

$119 ₽9,753

-24.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,418

$120 ₽9,805

-39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$550 ₽45.0K

-12.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$284 ₽23.2K

9.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$827 ₽67.6K

28.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$510 ₽41.8K

29.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.2K

$2,416 ₽197.7K

0.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

$1,484 ₽121.4K

8.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Novy Urengoy: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Novy Urengoy

$284 25.9% 8.4% $26

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Novy Urengoy

$211 19.3% 10.8% $25

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Novy Urengoy

$177 16.1% 63.4% $69

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Novy Urengoy

$164 14.9% 73.1% $69

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Novy Urengoy

$177 16.2% 131% $101

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Novy Urengoy

$31 2.8% 46.8% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Novy Urengoy

$53 4.8% 4.1% $2.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $550 in Novy Urengoy. 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $41 in Novy Urengoy. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $211 in Novy Urengoy – so Novy Urengoy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Novy Urengoy

🕒 Local time

16:20 4:20 PM

14:20 2:20 PM

2 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

124,112

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 RUB = 1.22 USD

100 RUB = 1.09 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.75 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 81.84 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 91.96 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Novy Urengoy 5,500 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Novy Urengoy

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 Novy Urengoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novy Urengoy costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,645 in Novy Urengoy. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $550 in Novy Urengoy.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $304 in Novy Urengoy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Novy Urengoy – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,097 in Novy Urengoy. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,097 in Novy Urengoy. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.