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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Shakhty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,471 in Shakhty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,988 in Shakhty, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Shakhty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shakhty are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Shakhty 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$9.33 ₽700

-79.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$37.47 ₽2,812

-50.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$5.83 ₽437

28.64%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.36 ₽177

-18.22%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.13 ₽84.9

-30.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.52 ₽38.68

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.38 ₽103

55.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.58 ₽193

43.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.12 ₽83.9

52.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.71 ₽53.2

119.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.43 ₽108

-17.48%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.80 ₽135

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$10.78 ₽809

48.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.78 ₽359

-33.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$8.71 ₽654

25.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.82 ₽137

44.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.81 ₽136

-35.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.90 ₽143

-13.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.79 ₽209

-44.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.78 ₽58.6

76.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.67 ₽50.4

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.41 ₽106

-53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.71 ₽52.9

-28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.96 ₽222

52.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.28 ₽621

121.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.99 ₽74.5

81.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.94 ₽146

63.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.54 ₽40.16

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.89 ₽142

-25.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.33 ₽24.54

296.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$6.44 ₽483

25.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.72 ₽54.1

77.78%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$34.3K ₽2.6M

-37.83%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$35.8K ₽2.7M

-39.30%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$111 ₽8,311

-37.52%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$5.97 ₽448

134.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.67 ₽575

134.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$35.98 ₽2,700

17.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$4.96 ₽372

19.35%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$323 ₽24.2K

-7.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$6,945 ₽521.2K

113.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$70.3 ₽5,275

-20.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$45.28 ₽3,398

-40.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$114 ₽8,550

-25.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$109 ₽8,154

-33.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$452 ₽33.9K

-3.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$306 ₽23.0K

-21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$759 ₽57.0K

5.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$502 ₽37.7K

-0.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$2,111 ₽158.4K

-5.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,639 ₽123.0K

-6.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$403 ₽30.2K

56.02%

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 Shakhty: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $452 in Shakhty. 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 56% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $37 in Shakhty. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $198 in Shakhty – so Shakhty 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 Shakhty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shakhty costs about 13% 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 $1,431 in Shakhty. 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 $37.00 in Shakhty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Shakhty – 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 $845, than in Shakhty at $954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shakhty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $954 in Shakhty. 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, Shakhty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.