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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,548 in Yerevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,288 in Yerevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,028 in Yerevan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Yerevan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Yerevan is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$11.18 ֏4,056
-81.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$52.1 ֏18.9K
-61.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$10.44 ֏3,787
-44.54%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$3.69 ֏1,340
-50.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$1.21 ֏439
-35.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.66 ֏240
-53.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$2.80 ֏1,014
-16.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$3.67 ֏1,332
0.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.59 ֏575
27.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$1.03 ֏375
55.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$2.12 ֏769
-33.02%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$2.73 ֏989
-20.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$8.40 ֏3,046
89.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$7.51 ֏2,723
-59.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$13.91 ֏5,047
-29.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$1.36 ֏493
93.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$1.74 ֏633
-36.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$2.01 ֏729
-18.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$2.52 ֏913
-39.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.70 ֏255
77.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.67 ֏244
68.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.91 ֏331
-18.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.80 ֏291
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$2.80 ֏1,017
52.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$11.11 ֏4,030
61.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.52 ֏552
11.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$2.02 ֏732
43.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$0.40 ֏143
135.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$25.13 ֏9,117
120.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$1.34 ֏486
-8.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$0.50 ֏182
6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$13.25 ֏4,808
-81.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$1.54 ֏559
-6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$34.8K ֏12.6M
-39.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$33.3K ֏12.1M
-18.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$131 ֏47.7K
-50.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$8.89 ֏3,224
50.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$23.79 ֏8,632
-12.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$73.1 ֏26.5K
-44.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
$35.73 ֏13.0K
-88.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$8.20 ֏2,975
-18.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$365 ֏132.4K
115.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$10.3K ֏3.7M
46.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$105 ֏38.0K
-46.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$56.4 ֏20.5K
-55.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$143 ֏51.8K
-35.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$170 ֏61.5K
-55.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$847 ֏307.2K
-42.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$621 ֏225.2K
-53.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,413 ֏512.7K
-35.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$880 ֏319.1K
-39.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$3,240 ֏1.2M
-38.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$1,549 ֏562.0K
-6.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$673 ֏244.1K
-10.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
14.04
-60.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Yerevan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $847 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 11% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Yerevan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $239 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 63% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Yerevan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,322 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 in Yerevan?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $365 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 in Yerevan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 in Yerevan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Yerevan at $1,548. 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 $950 versus $1,548 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 to 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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