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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $972 in Sumy, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,640 in Sumy, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,309 in Sumy, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Sumy, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sumy are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sumy 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$11.39 ₴509

-81.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$33.14 ₴1,479

-40.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.89 ₴307

-17.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.72 ₴76.6

5.23%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.79 ₴35.17

-2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.54 ₴24.29

-35.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.37 ₴61.3

61.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.07 ₴92.5

83.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.28 ₴57.2

60.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.82 ₴36.57

84.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.48 ₴66.2

-5.41%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.08 ₴92.8

8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.28 ₴459

57.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.44 ₴243

-46.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.71 ₴389

8.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.23 ₴54.9

117.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.56 ₴69.7

-30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.92 ₴85.9

-15.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.52 ₴113

-42.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.60 ₴26.83

113.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.46 ₴20.53

130.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.39 ₴62.0

-48.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.62 ₴27.67

-14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.91 ₴130

45.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.55 ₴248

229.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.89 ₴39.80

83.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$0.98 ₴43.83

195.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.33 ₴14.57

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$8.86 ₴395

506.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.29 ₴102

-48.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.47 ₴20.85

23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.29 ₴192

-44.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.49 ₴66.4

-2.68%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$28.9K ₴1.3M

-27.24%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$22.4K ₴999.3K

18.03%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$94.6 ₴4,224

-32.73%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$6.99 ₴312

84.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$6.72 ₴300

205.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$46.38 ₴2,070

-15.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$22.12 ₴987

-82.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.66 ₴163

79.78%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$234 ₴10.5K

234.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$14.9K ₴662.9K

-1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$70.2 ₴3,135

-21.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$30.86 ₴1,377

-19.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$94.4 ₴4,216

-0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$119 ₴5,315

-37.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$558 ₴24.9K

-12.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$309 ₴13.8K

-6.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$1,021 ₴45.6K

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$839 ₴37.4K

-37.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,665 ₴74.3K

18.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,369 ₴61.1K

5.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$385 ₴17.2K

56.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

15.9

-64.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sumy: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $558 in Sumy. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 56% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Sumy. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $188 in Sumy – so Sumy 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 Sumy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sumy costs about 4% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,458 in Sumy. 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $234 in Sumy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Sumy – 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 $932, than in Sumy at $972. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sumy it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $972 in Sumy. 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, Sumy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.