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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,460 in Yerevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,187 in Yerevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,913 in Yerevan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 41% cheaper than Yerevan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Yerevan is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$10.49 ֏3,861
-81.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$52.0 ֏19.1K
-64.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$7.78 ֏2,862
0.51%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$3.38 ֏1,243
-42.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$0.94 ֏346
-9.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$0.49 ֏181
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$1.78 ֏656
19.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$3.85 ֏1,419
-3.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.59 ֏586
7.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.89 ֏327
83.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$2.31 ֏849
-50.65%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$2.38 ֏875
-18.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$8.33 ֏3,066
94.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$7.22 ֏2,659
-56.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$12.38 ֏4,556
-11.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.26 ֏463
118.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.78 ֏655
-32.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.73 ֏638
-6.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$2.20 ֏811
-27.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$0.76 ֏281
84.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$0.71 ֏260
64.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$0.83 ֏304
-20.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.66 ֏243
-19.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$2.54 ֏936
84.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$10.83 ֏3,985
72.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.32 ֏487
36.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.17 ֏799
48.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$0.38 ֏139
136.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$23.39 ֏8,611
-17.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$1.60 ֏591
-11.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.29 ֏106
344.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$4.69 ֏1,725
67.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.40 ֏514
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$31.2K ֏11.5M
-31.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$37.8K ֏13.9M
-41.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$131 ֏48.2K
-47.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$8.54 ֏3,142
64.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$20.87 ֏7,681
-13.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$104 ֏38.4K
-60.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$30.36 ֏11.2K
-77.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$6.47 ֏2,381
-8.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$372 ֏137.1K
-19.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$7,777 ֏2.9M
92.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$109 ֏40.2K
-49.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$61.4 ֏22.6K
-56.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$140 ֏51.5K
-39.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$139 ֏51.2K
-49.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$789 ֏290.3K
-45.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$553 ֏203.5K
-57.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$1,381 ֏508.4K
-41.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$860 ֏316.5K
-40.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$3,061 ֏1.1M
-35.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$1,611 ֏593.1K
-8.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$660 ֏243.0K
-6.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
15.53
-67.80%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yerevan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $789 in Yerevan. 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 7% higher in Yerevan, 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 $52.0 in Yerevan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Yerevan – so Yerevan 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 Yerevan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Yerevan?
Yerevan costs about 69% 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 Yerevan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,191 in Yerevan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Yerevan?
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 Yerevan?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $372 in Yerevan. 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 Yerevan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Yerevan – 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 Yerevan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Yerevan at $1,460. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yerevan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Yerevan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,460 in Yerevan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Yerevan?
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 Yerevan?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yerevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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