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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,003 in Tomsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,574 in Tomsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,144 in Tomsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Tomsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Tomsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tomsk 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.6

$6.27 ₽454

-68.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿615

$32.38 ₽2,345

-41.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿253

$5.87 ₽425

32.03%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.7

$2.27 ₽164

-15.42%

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

$0.79 ฿25.87

$0.98 ₽70.7

-19.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.66

$0.46 ₽33.16

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.25 ₽90.7

76.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$2.96 ₽215

23.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.0

$1.14 ₽82.8

44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.55 ₽39.71

196.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.99

$1.82 ₽132

-34.62%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.3

$1.66 ₽120

20.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿522

$10.84 ₽785

47.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.9

$5.51 ₽399

-45.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿355

$8.97 ₽650

21.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.3

$2.00 ₽145

38.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.55

$1.97 ₽142

-40.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.13 ₽154

-23.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.68

$3.76 ₽272

-59.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.25

$0.69 ₽50.1

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.97

$0.57 ₽41.39

108.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.94

$1.05 ₽76.0

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.19

$0.59 ₽42.41

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿150

$2.47 ₽179

85.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿541

$7.57 ₽548

118.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.7

$0.85 ₽61.8

115.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.89 ₽137

69.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.66

$0.39 ₽28.32

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿612

$26.30 ₽1,905

-28.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.31

$1.70 ₽123

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.80

$0.25 ₽18.18

436.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.15 ₽446

27.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.06

$0.74 ₽53.5

66.22%

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

$21.6K ฿706.7K

$31.1K ₽2.3M

-30.52%

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

$22.5K ฿736.8K

$41.5K ₽3.0M

-45.70%

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

$70.5 ฿2,305

$114 ₽8,291

-38.38%

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

$13.68 ฿447

$5.13 ₽371

166.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿570

$8.28 ₽600

110.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,351

$63.1 ₽4,569

-34.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$25.32 ₽1,834

-72.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿189

$5.84 ₽423

-1.20%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$76.5 ₽5,543

301.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿477.5K

$4,477 ₽324.3K

226.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,823

$76.3 ₽5,529

-26.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿856

$34.31 ₽2,485

-23.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,802

$133 ₽9,659

-35.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,361

$181 ₽13.1K

-60.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$438 ₽31.7K

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,800

$277 ₽20.1K

-13.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.7K

$760 ₽55.1K

7.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.7K

$518 ₽37.5K

-1.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.8K

$2,482 ₽179.7K

-20.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.5K

$1,734 ₽125.6K

-14.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,002 ₽72.6K

-38.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.08

-77.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tomsk: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $438 in Tomsk. 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 62% higher in Tomsk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Tomsk. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $205 in Tomsk – so Tomsk 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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tomsk costs about 15% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,505 in Tomsk. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $76.5 in Tomsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Tomsk – 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $1,003 in Tomsk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,003 in Tomsk. 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, Tomsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.