Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Veliky Novgorod Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Veliky Novgorod

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,649 in Veliky Novgorod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,219 in Veliky Novgorod, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Veliky Novgorod, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Veliky Novgorod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Veliky Novgorod 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$9.63 ₽703
-79.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$48.93 ₽3,571
-61.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$5.75 ₽420
36.00%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$2.58 ₽188
-24.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$1.09 ₽79.2
-22.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$0.59 ₽42.78
-40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$1.87 ₽137
13.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$2.61 ₽191
42.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.16 ₽84.8
47.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.88 ₽63.9
85.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.58 ₽115
-27.85%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$1.85 ₽135
4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$12.25 ₽894
32.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.87 ₽282
-19.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$10.67 ₽779
2.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.68 ₽123
63.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.29 ₽93.9
-6.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.98 ₽144
-18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$3.34 ₽244
-52.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$0.88 ₽64.2
59.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$0.68 ₽49.53
72.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$1.30 ₽94.9
-49.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.77 ₽56.5
-31.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$3.03 ₽221
54.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$6.80 ₽496
174.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.06 ₽77.3
69.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.03 ₽148
59.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$0.48 ₽35.23
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$36.05 ₽2,631
-46.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$1.26 ₽91.6
11.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.56 ₽40.68
130.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$7.72 ₽564
1.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$0.75 ₽54.7
69.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$37.6K ₽2.7M
-43.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$36.8K ₽2.7M
-39.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$130 ₽9,517
-47.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$6.78 ₽495
107.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$7.09 ₽517
153.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$31.59 ₽2,306
29.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$5.59 ₽408
5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$399 ₽29.1K
-25.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$9,491 ₽692.7K
57.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$98.5 ₽7,186
-44.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$53.6 ₽3,910
-50.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$117 ₽8,565
-27.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$133 ₽9,736
-47.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$451 ₽32.9K
-5.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$306 ₽22.3K
-22.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$757 ₽55.2K
5.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$518 ₽37.8K
-0.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$1,713 ₽125.1K
15.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$1,359 ₽99.2K
8.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Veliky Novgorod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$834 ₽60.8K
-25.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
24.95
-79.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Veliky Novgorod: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $451 in Veliky Novgorod. 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 35% higher in Veliky Novgorod, 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 $49.00 in Veliky Novgorod. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Veliky Novgorod – so Veliky Novgorod 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 Veliky Novgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
Veliky Novgorod costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Veliky Novgorod?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,619 in Veliky Novgorod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Veliky Novgorod?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $399 in Veliky Novgorod. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Veliky Novgorod – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Veliky Novgorod at $1,079. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Veliky Novgorod it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Veliky Novgorod?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Veliky Novgorod?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Veliky Novgorod makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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