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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $964 in Shakhty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,472 in Shakhty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,981 in Shakhty, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% 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 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$9.66 ₽751

-78.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$37.46 ₽2,912

-50.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$5.56 ₽432

41.01%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$2.30 ₽178

-16.09%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$1.09 ₽84.4

-23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$0.48 ₽37.05

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

$1.40 ₽109

58.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.48 ₽193

52.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$1.10 ₽85.4

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$0.70 ₽54.8

121.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$1.37 ₽106

-13.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$1.77 ₽138

13.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$10.65 ₽828

51.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$4.79 ₽373

-36.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$8.88 ₽690

22.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$1.81 ₽141

48.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$1.81 ₽141

-32.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$2.01 ₽156

-18.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$2.75 ₽214

-44.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.85 ₽66.0

57.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$0.66 ₽51.4

83.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$1.37 ₽106

-48.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$0.67 ₽52.1

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$2.90 ₽226

61.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

$8.43 ₽655

110.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

$0.97 ₽75.3

90.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.92 ₽149

67.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

$0.49 ₽37.79

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$1.94 ₽151

-27.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$0.35 ₽27.58

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.22 ₽484

25.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$0.72 ₽56.1

79.17%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$34.9K ₽2.7M

-37.63%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$35.8K ₽2.8M

-39.39%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$109 ₽8,436

-35.53%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$6.11 ₽475

132.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$7.83 ₽609

122.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

$36.25 ₽2,817

14.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$5.15 ₽400

12.23%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$325 ₽25.3K

-7.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$7,037 ₽547.0K

106.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$69.3 ₽5,385

-20.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$44.33 ₽3,445

-40.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$114 ₽8,895

-25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$109 ₽8,468

-35.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$438 ₽34.1K

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

$309 ₽24.1K

-24.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$754 ₽58.6K

6.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

$514 ₽40.0K

0.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

$2,268 ₽176.3K

-15.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

$1,303 ₽101.2K

11.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Shakhty: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $438 in Shakhty. 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 $37.00 in Shakhty. Groceries tell a different story – $242 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 14% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,445 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 $19.00 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 $847, than in Shakhty at $964. 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 $847 versus $964 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.