Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yerevan

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,570 in Yerevan, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Yerevan, Armenia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Yerevan
🇦🇲 Armenia
$1,570
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Yerevan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Yerevan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,570 in Yerevan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Yerevan $1,570

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,272 in Yerevan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Yerevan $2,272

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,974 in Yerevan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Yerevan $2,974

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Yerevan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Yerevan is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.5
$11.24 ֏4,048
-80.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿640
$49.35 ֏17.8K
-61.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$9.93 ֏3,574
-44.11%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.4
$3.70 ֏1,333
-54.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.51
$1.19 ֏429
-46.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.29
$0.66 ֏236
-53.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$2.70 ֏974
-12.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿123
$3.30 ֏1,188
10.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.60 ֏575
21.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.41
$0.98 ֏352
46.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.97
$2.24 ֏805
-40.63%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$2.75 ֏989
-17.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿554
$8.35 ֏3,008
97.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$7.64 ֏2,749
-63.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$14.04 ֏5,054
-33.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.3
$1.48 ֏533
58.78%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.75
$1.75 ֏629
-44.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$1.93 ֏696
-17.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.50 ֏899
-40.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.06
$0.73 ֏262
75.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.14
$0.68 ֏246
61.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.79
$0.98 ֏352
-27.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.34
$0.74 ֏267
-33.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.79 ֏1,006
48.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿590
$9.53 ֏3,431
83.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.4
$1.51 ֏545
6.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$2.04 ֏735
36.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.27
$0.44 ֏158
97.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,823
$25.12 ֏9,042
115.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.00
$1.35 ֏486
-14.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.78
$0.57 ֏204
-7.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$13.13 ֏4,728
-81.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$1.61 ֏578
-9.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿709.7K
$34.7K ֏12.5M
-39.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.9K
$29.6K ֏10.7M
-8.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,095
$123 ֏44.1K
-49.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$8.95 ֏3,224
35.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿678
$23.92 ֏8,611
-15.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,257
$70.2 ֏25.3K
-46.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$33.68 ֏12.1K
-88.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.09 ֏2,913
-19.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$343 ֏123.5K
114.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿497.6K
$10.1K ֏3.7M
45.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,799
$102 ֏36.7K
-47.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿830
$56.7 ֏20.4K
-56.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,083
$127 ֏45.8K
-28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,424
$150 ֏54.1K
-52.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,078 ֏388.1K
-55.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$673 ֏242.4K
-54.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,450 ֏522.0K
-30.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.3K
$922 ֏332.0K
-31.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.6K
$3,199 ֏1.2M
-26.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,675 ֏602.9K
-5.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yerevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$680 ֏244.7K
-13.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.42
-58.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Yerevan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Yerevan
$673 118% $364
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Yerevan
$236 0.8% $1.9
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Yerevan
$196 80.6% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Yerevan
$155 64.5% $61
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Yerevan
$192 147% $114
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Yerevan
$31 49.4% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Yerevan
$86 71.9% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,078 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 15% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $49 in Yerevan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $236 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇦🇲 Yerevan
🕒 Local time
15:20 3:20 PM
12:20 12:20 PM
3 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
1,129,300 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Armenian Dram exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 360 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 402 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.49 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Yerevan 5,680 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Yerevan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 68% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,355 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,078 in Yerevan.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Yerevan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $49 in Yerevan. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Yerevan?
Public transport costs about 54% less in Yerevan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Yerevan?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,570 in Yerevan. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Yerevan?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,570 in Yerevan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Yerevan?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Yerevan?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yerevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?