Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Velikiye Luki

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,077 in Velikiye Luki, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Velikiye Luki
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Velikiye Luki Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Velikiye Luki

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,077

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Velikiye Luki

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Velikiye Luki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,077 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Velikiye Luki $1,077

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,678 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Velikiye Luki $1,678

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,279 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Velikiye Luki $2,279

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Velikiye Luki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Velikiye Luki are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Velikiye Luki 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$11.70 ₽942

-80.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$38.20 ₽3,075

-50.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$6.16 ₽496

-9.90%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$2.70 ₽217

-38.15%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.10 ₽88.6

-41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.62 ₽50.3

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.79 ₽144

31.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.06 ₽246

19.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.18 ₽95.1

65.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.72 ₽58.2

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.39 ₽111

-4.32%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.60 ₽129

42.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$11.54 ₽929

42.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$5.20 ₽419

-46.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$11.27 ₽907

-17.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$1.73 ₽139

35.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.83 ₽147

-46.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.77 ₽142

-9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$2.66 ₽215

-43.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.80 ₽64.0

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.58 ₽47.08

89.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.36 ₽109

-47.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.71 ₽57.3

-30.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.99 ₽241

38.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$8.05 ₽648

117.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.07 ₽85.9

50.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.97 ₽158

41.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.52 ₽42.07

67.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$29.05 ₽2,339

86.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$2.46 ₽198

-52.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.38 ₽30.21

39.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$5.63 ₽453

-57.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$0.82 ₽65.8

76.83%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$51.7K ₽4.2M

-59.23%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$39.6K ₽3.2M

-31.98%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$122 ₽9,792

-48.90%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$6.40 ₽516

90.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$8.68 ₽699

131.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$35.53 ₽2,860

5.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$24.24 ₽1,951

-84.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.42 ₽517

1.09%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$352 ₽28.4K

108.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$6,288 ₽506.1K

134.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$80.3 ₽6,465

-33.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$52.7 ₽4,245

-53.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$122 ₽9,808

-24.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$103 ₽8,313

-30.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$468 ₽37.7K

3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$320 ₽25.8K

-3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$892 ₽71.8K

12.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$568 ₽45.7K

11.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,279 ₽183.4K

3.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,476 ₽118.8K

7.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.45

-74.03%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Velikiye Luki: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Velikiye Luki

$320 29.8% 3.7% $12

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Velikiye Luki

$208 19.3% 11.1% $26

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Velikiye Luki

$161 15% 48.4% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Velikiye Luki

$137 12.7% 44.8% $42

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Velikiye Luki

$166 15.5% 115% $89

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Velikiye Luki

$35 3.3% 42.2% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Velikiye Luki

$48 4.5% 3.8% $1.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $468 in Velikiye Luki. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $38 in Velikiye Luki. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $208 in Velikiye Luki – so Velikiye Luki wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇷🇺 Velikiye Luki

🕒 Local time

19:02 7:02 PM

15:02 3:02 PM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

86,711

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.12 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.49 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.59 RUB (100 RUB = 1.12 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Velikiye Luki 6,960 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Velikiye Luki

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Velikiye Luki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Velikiye Luki costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,616 in Velikiye Luki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $468 in Velikiye Luki. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $352 in Velikiye Luki. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Velikiye Luki – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,077 in Velikiye Luki. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,077 in Velikiye Luki. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.