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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $970 in Salekhard, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,495 in Salekhard, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,020 in Salekhard, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Salekhard, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Salekhard are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Salekhard 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$9.37 ₽703

-79.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$38.37 ₽2,879

-51.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$5.58 ₽419

34.41%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.34 ₽176

-17.52%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.12 ₽84.4

-30.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.52 ₽39.33

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.36 ₽102

58.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.57 ₽193

44.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.14 ₽85.8

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.70 ₽52.5

122.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.36 ₽102

-13.24%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.73 ₽130

14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$10.66 ₽800

50.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.85 ₽364

-34.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$8.69 ₽652

25.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.76 ₽132

49.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.87 ₽140

-37.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.93 ₽145

-14.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.68 ₽201

-42.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.83 ₽62.4

66.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.70 ₽52.8

67.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.35 ₽101

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.68 ₽50.7

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.99 ₽225

51.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$7.63 ₽573

140.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.94 ₽70.3

91.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.87 ₽140

70.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.52 ₽39.10

73.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.92 ₽144

-26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.32 ₽24.34

309.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$6.19 ₽465

30.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.74 ₽55.5

72.97%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$33.7K ₽2.5M

-36.89%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$35.6K ₽2.7M

-39.03%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$109 ₽8,201

-36.68%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$5.87 ₽441

137.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.64 ₽573

134.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$36.23 ₽2,719

16.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$5.23 ₽392

13.19%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$326 ₽24.5K

-8.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$7,123 ₽534.5K

108.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$70.8 ₽5,315

-20.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$44.53 ₽3,342

-39.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$112 ₽8,408

-24.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$108 ₽8,140

-33.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$452 ₽33.9K

-3.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$303 ₽22.7K

-20.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$774 ₽58.1K

3.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$507 ₽38.1K

-1.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$2,053 ₽154.0K

-2.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,486 ₽111.5K

3.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$792 ₽59.5K

-20.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

-67.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Salekhard: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $452 in Salekhard. 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 26% higher in Salekhard, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $38 in Salekhard. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Salekhard – so Salekhard 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 Salekhard: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salekhard costs about 15% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,454 in Salekhard. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Salekhard. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Salekhard – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $970 in Salekhard, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $970 in Salekhard. 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, Salekhard makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.