Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sumy

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Sumy: $936 and $941 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sumy, Ukraine
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Sumy
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$941
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sumy

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Sumy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $941 in Sumy, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Sumy $941

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,610 in Sumy, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Sumy $1,610

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,279 in Sumy, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Sumy $2,279

Chiang Mai and Sumy have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chiang Mai and Sumy are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sumy 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$10.89 ₴496
-79.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$32.99 ₴1,502
-42.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$7.49 ₴341
-25.90%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.80 ₴81.7
-7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.53
$0.78 ₴35.63
-17.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.30
$0.53 ₴24.28
-41.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$1.33 ₴60.7
77.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$1.94 ₴88.4
88.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.27 ₴58.1
53.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.45
$0.84 ₴38.32
71.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.01
$1.42 ₴64.8
-6.34%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$1.95 ₴88.6
16.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$10.13 ₴461
62.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$5.29 ₴241
-47.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$8.46 ₴385
10.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.18 ₴53.7
99.15%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.78
$1.51 ₴68.6
-35.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.81 ₴82.3
-11.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.69 ₴122
-44.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.10
$0.58 ₴26.53
120.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.17
$0.44 ₴20.12
150.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.81
$1.48 ₴67.4
-52.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$0.59 ₴26.89
-16.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.85 ₴130
45.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$5.47 ₴249
220.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$0.85 ₴38.84
89.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$0.96 ₴43.65
189.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$0.32 ₴14.42
171.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$9.23 ₴420
486.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.03
$2.20 ₴100
-47.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.79
$0.46 ₴20.95
15.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$4.20 ₴191
-42.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.87
$1.57 ₴71.5
-7.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.3K
$30.6K ₴1.4M
-31.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿908.7K
$24.1K ₴1.1M
11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,097
$99.1 ₴4,510
-37.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$6.80 ₴310
78.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$6.53 ₴297
208.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$30.27 ₴1,378
23.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$20.95 ₴954
-82.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$3.60 ₴164
80.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$229 ₴10.4K
221.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.0K
$15.0K ₴682.6K
-1.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,800
$71.7 ₴3,262
-25.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$30.39 ₴1,384
-18.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,086
$94.6 ₴4,306
-3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,426
$116 ₴5,264
-37.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$544 ₴24.8K
-11.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$303 ₴13.8K
1.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$992 ₴45.2K
1.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$822 ₴37.4K
-22.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$1,081 ₴49.2K
118.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$845 ₴38.5K
88.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sumy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$378 ₴17.2K
55.93%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sumy: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Sumy
$303 1.9% $5.9
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Sumy
$185 21% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Sumy
$141 29.3% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Sumy
$112 19% $18
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Sumy
$147 89.4% $69
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Sumy
$15 75.6% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Sumy
$37 25.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $544 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $33 in Sumy. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Sumy – so Sumy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇦 Sumy
🕒 Local time
19:28 7:28 PM
14:28 2:28 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
267,633
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 45.53 UAH (100 UAH = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 50.81 UAH (100 UAH = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Sumy 6,600 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Sumy

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sumy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,411 in Sumy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Sumy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $544 in Sumy.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sumy?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $33 in Sumy. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Sumy?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Sumy. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Sumy?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $941 in Sumy. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Sumy?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $941 in Sumy. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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