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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $835 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,239 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,642 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ulyanovsk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ulyanovsk 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.93 ₽652

-78.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$31.68 ₽2,312

-41.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.58 ₽408

40.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.41 ₽176

-19.09%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.11 ₽81.0

-23.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.46 ₽33.36

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.85 ₽61.8

150.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.67 ₽122

123.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.10 ₽80.6

55.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.65 ₽47.23

150.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.19 ₽86.8

-4.20%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.57 ₽114

22.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.35 ₽682

73.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.75 ₽347

-34.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.51 ₽621

28.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.25 ₽90.9

120.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.50 ₽109

-19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.46 ₽107

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.74 ₽127

-8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.67 ₽48.62

108.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.39 ₽28.68

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.75 ₽128

-62.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.54 ₽39.40

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.38 ₽101

239.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.98 ₽363

274.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.91 ₽66.7

97.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.77 ₽129

82.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.43 ₽31.58

109.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.85 ₽135

-23.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.19 ₽13.75

578.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.92 ₽286

100.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.76 ₽55.4

67.11%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$48.7K ₽3.6M

-56.31%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$44.7K ₽3.3M

-50.25%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$102 ₽7,465

-32.46%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.47 ₽399

157.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.59 ₽408

222.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$35.95 ₽2,624

14.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.07 ₽297

45.45%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$89.2 ₽6,511

235.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,038 ₽440.7K

147.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$100 ₽7,317

-45.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$47.92 ₽3,498

-44.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$87.2 ₽6,364

-2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$75.7 ₽5,523

-6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$316 ₽23.0K

35.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$234 ₽17.1K

1.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$565 ₽41.2K

41.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$304 ₽22.2K

69.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,443 ₽178.3K

-19.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,482 ₽108.2K

-0.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$742 ₽54.1K

-16.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

-67.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $316 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 20% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Ulyanovsk. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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 4% more than Ulyanovsk, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,253 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Ulyanovsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $835 in Ulyanovsk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulyanovsk costs $835 versus $866 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.