Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Velikiye Luki Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Velikiye Luki

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $993 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,500 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,006 in Velikiye Luki, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Velikiye Luki, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Velikiye Luki are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Velikiye Luki 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.33 ₽701

-78.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$37.99 ₽2,854

-50.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.75 ₽432

37.74%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.33 ₽175

-18.03%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.13 ₽85.1

-25.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.48 ₽35.76

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.37 ₽103

61.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.56 ₽192

48.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.14 ₽86.0

43.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.70 ₽52.9

131.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.44 ₽108

-18.06%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.74 ₽130

15.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.66 ₽801

49.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.00 ₽375

-39.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.06 ₽681

18.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.75 ₽131

49.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.90 ₽143

-35.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.00 ₽150

-15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.70 ₽203

-41.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.80 ₽60.1

65.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.67 ₽49.99

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.37 ₽103

-51.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.71 ₽53.6

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.87 ₽215

57.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$14.24 ₽1,070

27.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.00 ₽75.2

83.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.95 ₽146

65.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.49 ₽36.85

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.86 ₽140

-27.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.36 ₽26.77

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.39 ₽480

29.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.77 ₽57.5

64.94%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$34.7K ₽2.6M

-39.03%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.9K ₽2.6M

-35.54%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$109 ₽8,224

-35.93%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.89 ₽442

133.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.88 ₽592

123.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$35.09 ₽2,635

18.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.96 ₽373

16.53%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$328 ₽24.6K

-6.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,062 ₽530.4K

109.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$70.7 ₽5,311

-23.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$44.35 ₽3,331

-41.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$115 ₽8,668

-26.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$108 ₽8,144

-35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$438 ₽32.9K

-3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$310 ₽23.3K

-23.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$765 ₽57.4K

7.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$515 ₽38.7K

-0.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,385 ₽179.1K

-14.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,505 ₽113.0K

1.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Velikiye Luki: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $438 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Velikiye Luki. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Velikiye Luki – so Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Velikiye Luki costs about 17% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,490 in Velikiye Luki. 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 Velikiye Luki. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Velikiye Luki – 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 $852, than in Velikiye Luki at $993. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Velikiye Luki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $993 in Velikiye Luki. 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, Velikiye Luki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.