Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulan Ude Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulan Ude

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $976 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,502 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,029 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ulan Ude are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ulan Ude 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$9.76 ₽712

-80.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$37.64 ₽2,747

-50.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.88 ₽429

32.99%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.29 ₽167

-14.85%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.19 ₽87.2

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.52 ₽37.76

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.35 ₽98.9

57.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.61 ₽190

42.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.15 ₽83.7

48.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.44 ₽32.07

270.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.39 ₽101

-17.99%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.79 ₽131

7.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.97 ₽801

47.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.82 ₽352

-35.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.72 ₽636

25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.80 ₽132

52.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.80 ₽131

-32.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.89 ₽138

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.77 ₽202

-42.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.85 ₽62.0

64.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.71 ₽51.7

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.42 ₽104

-53.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.70 ₽51.3

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.93 ₽214

60.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.11 ₽519

162.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.03 ₽74.9

74.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.94 ₽142

66.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.53 ₽39.03

69.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.92 ₽140

-26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.32 ₽23.59

303.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.49 ₽474

20.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.79 ₽57.9

60.76%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.7K ₽2.5M

-38.67%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$35.2K ₽2.6M

-36.97%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$109 ₽7,921

-36.35%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$6.09 ₽445

131.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.67 ₽560

134.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$36.08 ₽2,634

13.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.13 ₽375

15.40%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$324 ₽23.7K

-7.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,896 ₽503.3K

116.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$71.2 ₽5,199

-23.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$44.84 ₽3,273

-40.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$115 ₽8,389

-26.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$106 ₽7,729

-33.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$439 ₽32.1K

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$310 ₽22.6K

-23.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$754 ₽55.0K

6.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$511 ₽37.3K

0.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,532 ₽184.8K

-22.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,966 ₽143.5K

-24.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$703 ₽51.3K

-12.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.33

-72.72%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $439 in Ulan Ude. 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 14% higher in Ulan Ude, 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 $38.00 in Ulan Ude. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $194 in Ulan Ude – so Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulan Ude costs about 13% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,463 in Ulan Ude. 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 Ulan Ude. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Ulan Ude – 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 $866, than in Ulan Ude at $976. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulan Ude it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $976 in Ulan Ude. 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, Ulan Ude makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.