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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $966 in Ukhta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,490 in Ukhta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,014 in Ukhta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% 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 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$9.69 ₽727

-79.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$38.71 ₽2,905

-52.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$5.58 ₽418

34.41%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.38 ₽179

-18.91%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.07 ₽80.1

-27.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.48 ₽36.22

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.42 ₽107

51.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.53 ₽190

46.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.10 ₽82.5

55.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.66 ₽49.53

136.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.37 ₽103

-13.87%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.78 ₽134

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$10.95 ₽822

46.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.91 ₽368

-35.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$8.97 ₽673

21.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.81 ₽136

45.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.90 ₽142

-38.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.93 ₽145

-14.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.68 ₽201

-42.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.83 ₽62.3

66.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.70 ₽52.5

67.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.35 ₽101

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.66 ₽49.86

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.98 ₽223

51.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.14 ₽611

125.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.00 ₽75.1

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.88 ₽141

69.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.53 ₽39.49

69.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.95 ₽146

-27.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.33 ₽24.49

296.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$6.54 ₽490

23.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.73 ₽55.0

75.34%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$34.1K ₽2.6M

-37.51%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$36.1K ₽2.7M

-39.90%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$111 ₽8,324

-37.62%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$5.90 ₽442

136.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.89 ₽592

127.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$34.93 ₽2,621

21.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$4.94 ₽371

19.84%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$325 ₽24.4K

-7.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$6,917 ₽519.0K

114.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$70.2 ₽5,267

-19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$45.16 ₽3,389

-40.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$116 ₽8,678

-26.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$107 ₽8,041

-32.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$439 ₽32.9K

-0.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$299 ₽22.4K

-19.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$762 ₽57.2K

4.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$514 ₽38.5K

-2.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$2,176 ₽163.3K

-8.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,545 ₽116.0K

-0.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ukhta: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $439 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Ukhta. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $198 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 14% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,450 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Ukhta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Ukhta – 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 $845, than in Ukhta at $966. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ukhta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $966 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.