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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,160 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,785 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,411 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Shchelkovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shchelkovo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Shchelkovo 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.3

$12.49 ₽936

-84.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿608

$58.6 ₽4,393

-67.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿256

$6.18 ₽463

28.16%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿61.9

$3.15 ₽236

-39.37%

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

$0.84 ฿27.11

$1.44 ₽108

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.38

$0.62 ₽46.35

-43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.3

$1.41 ₽106

56.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿123

$4.47 ₽335

-14.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.9

$1.33 ₽99.3

23.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$0.85 ₽63.5

90.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.20

$1.74 ₽130

-32.18%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.1

$1.91 ₽143

5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿514

$12.97 ₽972

22.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿97.4

$6.07 ₽455

-50.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿348

$12.25 ₽918

-12.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿84.5

$1.97 ₽147

32.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.44

$2.03 ₽152

-39.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.1

$2.36 ₽177

-27.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.0

$4.04 ₽303

-60.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.67

$1.03 ₽77.1

28.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.81

$0.81 ₽60.3

44.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.74

$1.63 ₽122

-58.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.11

$0.74 ₽55.8

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$3.25 ₽243

39.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿589

$8.10 ₽607

124.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.3

$1.07 ₽80.3

71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿104

$2.32 ₽174

39.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.68

$0.50 ₽37.21

78.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿627

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.72

$2.48 ₽186

-45.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.56

$0.45 ₽33.59

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿267

$8.26 ₽619

-0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.18

$0.81 ₽61.0

56.79%

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

$21.2K ฿684.2K

$38.7K ₽2.9M

-45.27%

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

$22.5K ฿727.2K

$36.6K ₽2.7M

-38.56%

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

$70.2 ฿2,269

$150 ₽11.2K

-53.23%

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

$13.77 ฿445

$7.83 ₽587

75.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿569

$8.10 ₽607

117.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,345

$34.86 ₽2,612

19.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿213

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿187

$6.41 ₽480

-9.83%

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

$306 ฿9,901

$323 ₽24.2K

-5.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿479.4K

$6,919 ₽518.5K

114.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,758

$87.0 ₽6,518

-37.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿845

$53.7 ₽4,020

-51.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,734

$131 ₽9,805

-35.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,245

$163 ₽12.2K

-57.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.7K

$443 ₽33.2K

-4.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,703

$303 ₽22.7K

-21.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.7K

$772 ₽57.8K

6.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$511 ₽38.3K

0.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.3K

$1,944 ₽145.7K

5.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.2K

$1,603 ₽120.1K

-5.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

-79.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shchelkovo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $443 in Shchelkovo. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $59 in Shchelkovo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $240 in Shchelkovo – so Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shchelkovo costs about 36% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,740 in Shchelkovo. 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 $59.0 in Shchelkovo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Shchelkovo – 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 $852, than in Shchelkovo at $1,160. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shchelkovo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,160 in Shchelkovo. 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, Shchelkovo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.