Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rustavi

For one person, living is cheaper in Rustavi: $848 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
41

Cost of Living Index in Rustavi
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Rustavi Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Rustavi

🇬🇪 Georgia

$848

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $848 in Rustavi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Rustavi $848

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,263 in Rustavi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Rustavi $1,263

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,679 in Rustavi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Rustavi $1,679

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Rustavi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Rustavi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rustavi 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$10.20 ₾26.38

-79.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$30.57 ₾79.1

-39.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$10.62 ₾27.48

-47.27%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.99 ₾5.15

-16.58%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.75 ₾1.95

-13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.51 ₾1.32

-41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$1.24 ₾3.20

87.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$1.98 ₾5.13

85.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.73 ₾4.48

16.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.51 ₾1.31

176.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$1.22 ₾3.15

13.93%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$2.34 ₾6.06

1.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$5.97 ₾15.44

176.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$4.89 ₾12.66

-45.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$9.70 ₾25.10

-7.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$0.98 ₾2.54

144.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$1.60 ₾4.14

-35.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.50 ₾3.88

10.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$1.09 ₾2.81

43.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.77 ₾1.98

61.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.66 ₾1.70

65.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$1.26 ₾3.27

-39.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.70 ₾1.81

-27.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$3.22 ₾8.32

27.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$3.78 ₾9.77

374.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.58 ₾4.10

2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$2.52 ₾6.52

11.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.37 ₾0.95

151.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$11.35 ₾29.35

365.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.73 ₾1.90

61.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.37 ₾0.97

-54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$3.92 ₾10.13

-53.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$1.27 ₾3.28

15.75%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$23.5K ₾60.8K

-10.58%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$9,645 ₾25.0K

174.90%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$77.0 ₾199

-18.74%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$7.84 ₾20.28

47.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$11.51 ₾29.78

76.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$27.33 ₾70.7

38.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$19.31 ₾49.97

-80.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$4.78 ₾12.37

36.19%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$130 ₾337

457.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$2,684 ₾6,946

517.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$57.1 ₾148

-6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$40.57 ₾105

-38.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$95.4 ₾247

-5.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$85.7 ₾222

-16.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$275 ₾712

74.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$250 ₾646

24.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$463 ₾1,197

128.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$308 ₾796

113.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$1,037 ₾2,684

133.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$776 ₾2,008

107.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$447 ₾1,156

33.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-57.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Rustavi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Rustavi

$250 29.4% 19.4% $60

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Rustavi

$172 20.2% 27.5% $65

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Rustavi

$125 14.8% 15.8% $17

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Rustavi

$96 11.4% 2% $1.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Rustavi

$153 18% 99.2% $76

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Rustavi

$15 1.8% 73.7% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Rustavi

$37 4.4% 27.5% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $275 in Rustavi. 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 33% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $31 in Rustavi. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $172 in Rustavi – so Rustavi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇪 Rustavi

🕒 Local time

13:02 1:02 PM

10:02 10:02 AM

3 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

132,333

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Georgian Lari GEL ₾

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 GEL = 0.387 USD

1 GEL = 0.346 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.346 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Rustavi 5,660 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Rustavi

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 Rustavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Rustavi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $1,272 in Rustavi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rustavi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $275 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $130 in Rustavi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $848 in Rustavi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Rustavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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

If budget matters most, go with Rustavi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.