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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $980 in Ukhta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,506 in Ukhta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,032 in Ukhta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Ukhta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ukhta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Ukhta 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$9.74 ₽756

-79.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿630

$37.93 ₽2,945

-50.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$5.82 ₽452

34.71%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.9

$2.25 ₽175

-14.22%

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

$0.83 ฿28.00

$1.09 ₽84.6

-23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.80

$0.52 ₽40.31

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$1.43 ₽111

55.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$2.58 ₽200

46.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.10 ₽85.7

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$0.66 ₽51.3

134.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.79

$1.43 ₽111

-17.48%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$1.77 ₽138

13.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿544

$10.86 ₽843

48.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$4.96 ₽385

-38.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$8.72 ₽677

24.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$1.82 ₽141

47.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.14

$1.87 ₽145

-34.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$1.92 ₽149

-15.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$2.80 ₽218

-45.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.10

$0.83 ₽64.7

61.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.86

$0.71 ₽55.0

70.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.63

$1.41 ₽109

-50.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.70

$0.66 ₽51.1

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$2.96 ₽230

58.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$8.10 ₽629

118.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$1.01 ₽78.6

83.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.94 ₽151

65.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.01

$0.53 ₽40.97

67.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.40

$1.88 ₽146

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.52

$0.33 ₽25.49

290.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.45 ₽501

20.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$0.73 ₽56.7

76.71%

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

$21.8K ฿733.4K

$34.4K ₽2.7M

-36.77%

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

$21.7K ฿730.7K

$36.0K ₽2.8M

-39.80%

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

$70.0 ฿2,358

$110 ₽8,558

-36.51%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$5.98 ₽465

137.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$7.76 ₽602

124.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,403

$35.24 ₽2,736

18.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$5.11 ₽396

13.11%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$330 ₽25.6K

-9.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.2K

$7,110 ₽552.0K

104.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,865

$70.0 ₽5,433

-20.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿886

$44.58 ₽3,461

-40.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,858

$114 ₽8,832

-25.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$106 ₽8,201

-33.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$444 ₽34.5K

-4.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,919

$309 ₽24.0K

-23.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$762 ₽59.2K

5.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$503 ₽39.1K

2.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$1,965 ₽152.5K

-1.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$1,711 ₽132.8K

-15.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ukhta: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $444 in Ukhta. 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 $38.00 in Ukhta. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Ukhta – so Ukhta 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 Ukhta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ukhta costs about 16% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,470 in Ukhta. 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 $38.00 in Ukhta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Ukhta – 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 $847 in Chiang Mai and $980 in Ukhta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $980 in Ukhta. 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, Ukhta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.