🙂A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Sarapul, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,412 in Sarapul, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,891 in Sarapul, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Sarapul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Sarapul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai37% lower, Sarapul30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03฿68.4
$8.77₽681
-76.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿630
$38.03₽2,952
-50.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84฿264
$4.46₽346
75.78%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿64.9
$2.28₽177
-15.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83฿28.00
$1.28₽99.4
-35.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.80
$0.39₽30.41
-10.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22฿74.8
$2.79₽216
-20.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿128
$2.61₽203
45.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.4
$1.01₽78.7
63.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55฿52.3
$0.69₽53.9
124.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿39.79
$1.65₽128
-28.48%
Eggs
$2.01฿67.9
$1.35₽105
48.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.16฿544
$5.68₽441
184.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿102
$3.73₽290
-18.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿365
$8.95₽695
21.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿90.3
$1.48₽115
81.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿41.14
$1.78₽138
-31.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿54.8
$1.31₽102
24.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$2.36₽183
-35.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34฿45.10
$0.48₽37.55
179.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿40.86
$0.97₽75.0
24.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿23.63
$1.54₽119
-54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.70
$0.64₽49.98
-17.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿158
$3.11₽242
50.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.71฿597
$6.36₽494
178.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85฿62.2
$0.60₽46.71
208.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21฿108
$1.91₽149
68.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿30.01
$0.53₽40.80
67.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.76฿632
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.40
$3.23₽251
-56.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿43.52
$0.32₽25.14
303.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79฿262
$7.69₽597
1.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿43.59
$0.57₽44.51
126.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿733.4K
$32.2K₽2.5M
-32.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿730.7K
$31.4K₽2.4M
-30.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0฿2,358
$95.5₽7,411
-26.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19฿478
$4.62₽359
207.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42฿587
$6.87₽534
153.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.64฿1,403
$35.42₽2,750
17.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89฿232
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿195
$5.21₽405
10.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300฿10.1K
$328₽25.5K
-8.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5K฿489.2K
$6,924₽537.6K
109.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4฿1,865
$70.8₽5,496
-21.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31฿886
$44.28₽3,438
-40.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,858
$113₽8,793
-25.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,375
$105₽8,151
-32.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425฿14.3K
$441₽34.3K
-3.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235฿7,919
$300₽23.3K
-21.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802฿27.0K
$767₽59.5K
4.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$516฿17.4K
$507₽39.3K
1.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,926฿64.9K
$2,034₽157.9K
-5.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿48.9K
$1,538₽119.4K
-5.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sarapul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$586฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
16.33
-69.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Last update for Sarapul: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $441 in Sarapul. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Sarapul. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $164 in Sarapul – so Sarapul 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 Sarapul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sarapul?
Sarapul costs about 10% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sarapul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,400 in Sarapul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Sarapul?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sarapul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Sarapul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Sarapul?
Interestingly, groceries are about 48% cheaper in Sarapul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Sarapul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Sarapul at $934. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarapul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Sarapul?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $934 in Sarapul. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sarapul?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Sarapul?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarapul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared