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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Serpukhov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,765 in Serpukhov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,398 in Serpukhov, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Serpukhov, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Serpukhov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Serpukhov 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿66.0

$12.77 ₽1,000

-84.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿618

$58.7 ₽4,600

-68.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.37 ₽499

17.43%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿68.0

$3.32 ₽260

-39.16%

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

$0.85 ฿28.57

$1.45 ₽113

-41.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.99

$0.68 ₽53.1

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿72.0

$1.35 ₽106

58.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.41 ₽346

-18.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.6

$1.32 ₽104

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.8

$0.83 ₽65.1

89.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.12

$1.75 ₽137

-32.00%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.2

$1.55 ₽121

25.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿546

$13.39 ₽1,049

20.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.40 ₽345

-32.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿369

$12.30 ₽964

-11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.4

$1.96 ₽153

38.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.34

$2.01 ₽157

-41.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.9

$2.29 ₽180

-26.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.1

$4.21 ₽330

-62.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.65

$0.99 ₽77.5

39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.54

$0.81 ₽63.3

48.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.55

$1.70 ₽133

-60.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.77

$0.81 ₽63.3

-30.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.14 ₽246

47.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿594

$7.90 ₽619

123.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.88 ₽68.6

111.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.42 ₽190

36.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.75

$0.53 ₽41.88

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿46.01

$2.50 ₽196

-45.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.08

$0.44 ₽34.32

204.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿277

$6.28 ₽492

30.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.28

$0.81 ₽63.4

50.62%

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

$21.4K ฿719.8K

$38.4K ₽3.0M

-44.32%

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

$22.5K ฿759.5K

$37.1K ₽2.9M

-39.28%

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

$70.7 ฿2,382

$149 ₽11.7K

-52.49%

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

$14.04 ฿473

$8.13 ₽637

72.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿590

$7.97 ₽624

119.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,421

$35.58 ₽2,788

18.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿200

$6.20 ₽486

-4.52%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$326 ₽25.5K

-5.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿501.5K

$7,007 ₽549.0K

112.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,880

$88.4 ₽6,928

-36.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿880

$53.5 ₽4,195

-51.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,798

$130 ₽10.2K

-36.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$162 ₽12.7K

-56.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.6K

$445 ₽34.8K

-2.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,054

$301 ₽23.6K

-20.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$748 ₽58.6K

9.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.3K

$506 ₽39.7K

1.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,167 ₽91.5K

-50.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

-52.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Serpukhov: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $445 in Serpukhov. 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 101% higher in Serpukhov, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $59.0 in Serpukhov. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Serpukhov – so Serpukhov 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 Serpukhov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Serpukhov costs about 32% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,700 in Serpukhov. 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 $59.0 in Serpukhov. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Serpukhov – 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 $861, than in Serpukhov at $1,133. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Serpukhov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,133 in Serpukhov. 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, Serpukhov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.