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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $844 in Yaroslavl, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,322 in Yaroslavl, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,800 in Yaroslavl, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Yaroslavl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Yaroslavl are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Yaroslavl 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$9.29 ₽797

-77.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$29.27 ₽2,512

-32.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.77 ₽409

18.45%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.51 ₽215

-27.89%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.90 ₽76.9

-21.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.48 ₽41.54

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$0.94 ₽80.7

138.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.53 ₽131

137.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.98 ₽84.3

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.77 ₽66.2

94.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.21 ₽104

10.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.29 ₽111

75.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$8.03 ₽689

102.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.74 ₽406

-37.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.48 ₽985

-13.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.58 ₽135

62.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.76 ₽151

-39.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.60 ₽137

0.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$3.11 ₽266

-51.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.92 ₽78.9

38.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.67 ₽57.9

59.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.99 ₽84.7

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.55 ₽47.60

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.35 ₽202

78.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.28 ₽625

145.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.69 ₽58.9

144.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.50 ₽129

89.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.47 ₽40.08

97.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$17.20 ₽1,476

213.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$2.54 ₽218

-51.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.19 ₽16.49

205.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$3.39 ₽291

-28.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.75 ₽64.7

88.00%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$29.7K ₽2.5M

-27.75%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$26.2K ₽2.2M

4.44%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$87.6 ₽7,521

-27.34%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$4.85 ₽417

164.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$4.60 ₽395

339.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$24.88 ₽2,135

55.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$14.46 ₽1,241

-72.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.80 ₽412

40.42%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$268 ₽23.0K

190.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$3,516 ₽301.7K

315.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$40.41 ₽3,468

34.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$22.88 ₽1,963

11.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$153 ₽13.2K

-38.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$118 ₽10.1K

-37.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$389 ₽33.4K

25.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$236 ₽20.2K

22.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$697 ₽59.8K

28.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$395 ₽33.9K

30.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,175 ₽186.7K

-10.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,053 ₽90.4K

40.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$811 ₽69.6K

-25.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

20.75

-73.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Yaroslavl: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $389 in Yaroslavl. 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 Yaroslavl, 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 $29.00 in Yaroslavl. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $186 in Yaroslavl – so Yaroslavl 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 Yaroslavl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Yaroslavl, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,266 in Yaroslavl. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaroslavl, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $268 in Yaroslavl. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yaroslavl, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Yaroslavl it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yaroslavl costs $844 versus $947 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 Yaroslavl. 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.