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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $971 in Volzhsky, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,456 in Volzhsky, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,942 in Volzhsky, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Volzhsky, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Volzhsky are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Volzhsky 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$15.20 ₽1,278

-86.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$46.23 ₽3,886

-57.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.59 ₽302

61.28%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.17 ₽98.7

56.41%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.01 ₽85.0

-22.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.49 ₽40.78

-36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.77 ₽149

32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.37 ₽115

170.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.12 ₽93.8

81.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.60 ₽50.5

166.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.73 ₽61.3

94.52%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.40 ₽118

55.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.25 ₽610

119.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.36 ₽282

-8.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$3.55 ₽299

178.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.05 ₽172

28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.27 ₽191

-51.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.91 ₽161

-14.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.26 ₽190

-32.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.74 ₽62.0

67.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.45 ₽37.80

151.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.34 ₽28.52

117.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.58 ₽49.02

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.67 ₽225

60.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$12.85 ₽1,080

39.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.78 ₽150

-4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.11 ₽177

37.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.60 ₽50.7

56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.41 ₽287

-63.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$3.50 ₽295

-31.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.80 ₽67.3

80.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$25.4K ₽2.1M

-16.49%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$18.3K ₽1.5M

49.13%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$168 ₽14.1K

-61.26%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$8.38 ₽704

59.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$7.65 ₽643

172.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$23.04 ₽1,937

75.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.69 ₽478

17.93%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$105 ₽8,854

-46.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$70.8 ₽5,949

-64.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$53.0 ₽4,453

74.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$172 ₽14.5K

-56.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$293 ₽24.6K

65.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$235 ₽19.7K

22.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$405 ₽34.1K

124.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$300 ₽25.2K

76.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$350 ₽29.4K

73.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.33

-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Volzhsky: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $293 in Volzhsky. 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 73% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $46.00 in Volzhsky. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $168 in Volzhsky – so Volzhsky 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 Volzhsky: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Volzhsky costs about 2% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,456 in Volzhsky. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $971 in Volzhsky. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 44% cheaper in Volzhsky – 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 $950, than in Volzhsky at $971. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Volzhsky it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $971 in Volzhsky. 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, Volzhsky makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.