Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yoshkar-Ola Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yoshkar-Ola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $960 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,432 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,904 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Yoshkar-Ola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Yoshkar-Ola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Yoshkar-Ola 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.46 ₽837

-83.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$25.48 ₽1,859

-26.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.14 ₽375

52.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.24 ₽90.8

57.26%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.71 ₽52.0

19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.42 ₽30.92

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.04 ₽75.8

104.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.23 ₽236

15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.05 ₽76.6

62.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 ₽45.07

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.29 ₽94.4

-11.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.61 ₽118

19.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.43 ₽761

55.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.80 ₽350

-35.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.96 ₽654

21.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.76 ₽128

56.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.69 ₽123

-28.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.92 ₽140

-15.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.46 ₽180

-35.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.76 ₽55.6

84.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.67 ₽48.70

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.23 ₽90.1

-46.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.74 ₽53.8

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.97 ₽217

57.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.26 ₽822

65.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.18 ₽86.2

52.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.14 ₽156

50.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.42 ₽30.84

114.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.92 ₽140

-26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.16 ₽11.90

706.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.63 ₽557

2.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.72 ₽52.3

76.39%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$40.5K ₽3.0M

-47.49%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$32.0K ₽2.3M

-30.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$114 ₽8,352

-39.64%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.49 ₽401

156.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.20 ₽526

150.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$36.69 ₽2,678

11.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.57 ₽406

6.28%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$344 ₽25.1K

-13.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,989 ₽291.2K

274.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$83.4 ₽6,090

-34.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$74.7 ₽5,452

-64.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$144 ₽10.5K

-41.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$114 ₽8,291

-37.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$324 ₽23.6K

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$252 ₽18.4K

-5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$516 ₽37.6K

55.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$376 ₽27.4K

37.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,367 ₽99.8K

44.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,322 ₽96.5K

11.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$551 ₽40.2K

12.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.5

-60.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yoshkar-Ola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $324 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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 12% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Yoshkar-Ola. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Yoshkar-Ola – so Yoshkar-Ola 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 Yoshkar-Ola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yoshkar-Ola costs about 11% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,439 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Yoshkar-Ola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Yoshkar-Ola – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $960 in Yoshkar-Ola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $960 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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, Yoshkar-Ola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.