Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stary Oskol Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stary Oskol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $956 in Stary Oskol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,498 in Stary Oskol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,039 in Stary Oskol, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Stary Oskol, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Stary Oskol are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Stary Oskol 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$9.75 ₽707

-79.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$37.37 ₽2,708

-49.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.84 ₽423

32.71%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.30 ₽167

-16.52%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.09 ₽78.8

-27.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.52 ₽37.69

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.36 ₽98.9

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.50 ₽181

46.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.10 ₽80.0

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.67 ₽48.53

143.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.38 ₽100

-13.77%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.73 ₽125

15.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.63 ₽770

50.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.94 ₽358

-38.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.07 ₽657

19.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.81 ₽131

52.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.89 ₽137

-37.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.91 ₽138

-14.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.76 ₽200

-44.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.84 ₽61.0

64.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.72 ₽51.9

65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.40 ₽102

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.72 ₽51.8

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.93 ₽212

56.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.19 ₽448

167.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.97 ₽70.1

88.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.95 ₽141

64.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.50 ₽36.11

76.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.95 ₽141

-30.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.35 ₽25.49

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.27 ₽454

25.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.72 ₽51.9

70.83%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$34.3K ₽2.5M

-37.05%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$36.2K ₽2.6M

-37.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$112 ₽8,086

-36.79%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.82 ₽422

135.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.63 ₽553

128.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$35.12 ₽2,545

17.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.22 ₽379

10.54%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$325 ₽23.5K

-5.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,119 ₽515.9K

105.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$70.4 ₽5,101

-20.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$44.42 ₽3,219

-41.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$113 ₽8,193

-24.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$107 ₽7,757

-32.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$446 ₽32.3K

-3.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$303 ₽21.9K

-21.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$773 ₽56.0K

5.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$501 ₽36.3K

1.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,549 ₽184.7K

-22.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,862 ₽134.9K

-20.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Stary Oskol: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $446 in Stary Oskol. 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 Stary Oskol. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Stary Oskol – so Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stary Oskol costs about 10% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,435 in Stary Oskol. 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 Stary Oskol. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Stary Oskol – 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 $869, than in Stary Oskol at $956. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stary Oskol it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $956 in Stary Oskol. 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, Stary Oskol makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.