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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $988 in Solikamsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,491 in Solikamsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,994 in Solikamsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Solikamsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Solikamsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Solikamsk 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.82 ₽662

-77.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$31.40 ₽2,359

-40.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.46 ₽410

45.05%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.32 ₽174

-17.67%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.00 ₽75.2

-16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.44 ₽32.92

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.29 ₽96.8

71.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.56 ₽193

48.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.93 ₽69.5

76.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.68 ₽51.2

138.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.45 ₽109

-18.62%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.76 ₽132

14.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.40 ₽631

89.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.71 ₽278

-18.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.75 ₽732

10.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.11 ₽83.2

135.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.61 ₽121

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.72 ₽129

-1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.43 ₽183

-34.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.96 ₽72.3

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.82 ₽61.5

42.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.08 ₽81.2

-37.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.73 ₽54.6

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.15 ₽236

43.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.12 ₽685

99.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.01 ₽75.9

81.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.91 ₽143

69.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.52 ₽39.31

71.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.81 ₽136

-25.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.19 ₽14.48

610.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.66 ₽350

77.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.78 ₽58.6

62.82%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.1K ₽2.4M

-34.06%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$38.6K ₽2.9M

-41.82%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$102 ₽7,634

-30.98%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.72 ₽429

140.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$6.80 ₽511

158.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$36.11 ₽2,712

15.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.97 ₽373

16.30%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$336 ₽25.2K

-8.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,955 ₽372.2K

199.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$97.6 ₽7,327

-44.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.77 ₽2,987

-34.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$143 ₽10.8K

-41.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$148 ₽11.1K

-53.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$440 ₽33.0K

-3.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$299 ₽22.5K

-20.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$772 ₽58.0K

6.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$510 ₽38.3K

1.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,353 ₽176.7K

-12.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,450 ₽108.9K

4.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.62

-71.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Solikamsk: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $440 in Solikamsk. 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 $31.00 in Solikamsk. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $181 in Solikamsk – so Solikamsk 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 Solikamsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Solikamsk costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,482 in Solikamsk. 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 $31.00 in Solikamsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% cheaper in Solikamsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $988 in Solikamsk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $988 in Solikamsk. 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, Solikamsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.