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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $982 in Solikamsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,497 in Solikamsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,013 in Solikamsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Solikamsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Solikamsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Solikamsk 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$8.87 ₽643
-77.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$31.50 ₽2,282
-40.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$5.56 ₽403
39.39%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$2.32 ₽168
-17.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$0.94 ₽68.2
-15.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$0.43 ₽31.16
-16.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.25 ₽90.4
76.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.58 ₽187
41.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$0.93 ₽67.2
77.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.68 ₽49.22
139.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.51 ₽110
-21.19%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$1.74 ₽126
14.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$8.48 ₽615
88.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$3.92 ₽284
-22.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$10.01 ₽726
8.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$1.12 ₽81.0
146.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.63 ₽118
-27.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.73 ₽125
-5.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$2.55 ₽185
-40.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.91 ₽65.6
51.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$0.86 ₽62.0
38.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$1.08 ₽78.2
-35.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.72 ₽51.8
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$3.13 ₽227
46.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$10.04 ₽728
64.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.03 ₽74.4
77.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$1.97 ₽143
62.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.50 ₽36.17
76.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$1.76 ₽127
-22.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.18 ₽12.91
644.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$4.69 ₽339
67.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$0.79 ₽57.2
55.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$32.2K ₽2.3M
-32.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$38.0K ₽2.8M
-40.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$102 ₽7,419
-31.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$5.94 ₽431
130.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$7.05 ₽511
147.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$36.10 ₽2,616
14.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$4.98 ₽361
15.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$333 ₽24.2K
-7.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$4,881 ₽353.7K
199.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$97.7 ₽7,080
-42.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$40.13 ₽2,908
-34.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$140 ₽10.2K
-38.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$148 ₽10.8K
-51.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$439 ₽31.8K
-2.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$308 ₽22.3K
-22.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$757 ₽54.8K
8.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$505 ₽36.6K
1.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$2,557 ₽185.3K
-22.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$1,468 ₽106.4K
1.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Solikamsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
17.62
-71.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Solikamsk: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $439 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $186 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
Solikamsk costs about 13% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Solikamsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,473 in Solikamsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Solikamsk?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Solikamsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Solikamsk at $982. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solikamsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $982 in Solikamsk. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Solikamsk?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Solikamsk?
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.

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