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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $811 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,259 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,707 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ulyanovsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ulyanovsk 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$11.56 ₽992

-82.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$28.53 ₽2,448

-31.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.87 ₽504

-3.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.40 ₽206

-24.58%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$1.00 ₽85.8

-29.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.49 ₽42.22

-34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.22 ₽191

0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.71 ₽147

112.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.06 ₽91.0

84.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.72 ₽62.2

108.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.21 ₽104

10.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.98 ₽84.1

130.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$11.43 ₽981

42.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.48 ₽471

-46.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$9.44 ₽810

5.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.20 ₽103

114.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.61 ₽138

-34.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.35 ₽201

-31.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.79 ₽240

-45.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.96 ₽82.3

32.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.65 ₽55.7

64.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.43 ₽123

-49.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.42 ₽36.18

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.63 ₽226

59.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.89 ₽592

159.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.70 ₽59.8

141.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$0.60 ₽51.3

373.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.41 ₽35.08

126.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$17.03 ₽1,461

216.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.25 ₽108

-1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.17 ₽14.43

241.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$4.83 ₽414

-49.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.78 ₽66.6

80.77%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$48.9K ₽4.2M

-56.16%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$42.2K ₽3.6M

-35.15%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$58.0 ₽4,978

9.78%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.19 ₽446

147.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$4.54 ₽390

345.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$27.89 ₽2,393

38.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$24.53 ₽2,105

-83.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.53 ₽474

21.88%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$175 ₽15.0K

344.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$29.00 ₽2,489

87.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$34.14 ₽2,930

-25.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$91.2 ₽7,830

3.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$57.9 ₽4,969

26.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$335 ₽28.7K

46.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$223 ₽19.2K

29.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$504 ₽43.2K

77.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$392 ₽33.6K

31.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,021 ₽173.5K

-3.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,231 ₽105.7K

19.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$613 ₽52.6K

-1.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-75.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $335 in Ulyanovsk. 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 2% higher in Ulyanovsk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Ulyanovsk. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Ulyanovsk – so Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Ulyanovsk, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,216 in Ulyanovsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulyanovsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $175 in Ulyanovsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulyanovsk, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ulyanovsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulyanovsk costs $811 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Ulyanovsk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.