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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $693 in Zaporizhzhya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,067 in Zaporizhzhya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,441 in Zaporizhzhya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Zaporizhzhya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Zaporizhzhya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Zaporizhzhya 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿68.5
$6.79 ₴304
-69.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿646
$22.48 ₴1,006
-12.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.65 ฿186
$3.67 ₴164
53.95%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿59.3
$1.13 ₴50.7
60.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ฿23.44
$0.56 ₴25.08
26.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.38
$0.41 ₴18.16
-21.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ฿73.5
$0.87 ₴38.86
157.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$1.72 ₴77.0
111.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ฿64.4
$1.09 ₴48.58
79.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ฿49.38
$0.71 ₴31.84
111.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.92
$1.24 ₴55.6
8.06%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿74.4
$1.66 ₴74.1
36.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.26 ฿534
$7.99 ₴357
103.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.1
$4.25 ₴190
-30.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 ฿327
$6.26 ₴280
58.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ฿84.5
$1.27 ₴57.0
102.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ฿34.72
$1.54 ₴68.9
-31.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.0
$1.65 ₴73.7
-2.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.96
$2.00 ₴89.3
-24.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 ฿41.76
$0.73 ₴32.83
73.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 ฿35.05
$0.52 ₴23.28
105.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.67
$1.23 ₴55.0
-41.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.72
$0.63 ₴28.02
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 ฿138
$2.86 ₴128
46.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 ฿587
$4.42 ₴198
304.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿55.7
$0.84 ₴37.54
101.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿93.2
$1.27 ₴56.6
123.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿30.42
$0.39 ₴17.60
138.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,770
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.58
$1.33 ₴59.4
-7.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿18.96
$0.36 ₴15.90
61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿79.7
$2.30 ₴103
5.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ฿46.42
$1.48 ₴66.1
-4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿704.9K
$29.7K ₴1.3M
-27.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿898.5K
$20.4K ₴913.4K
33.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,093
$96.8 ₴4,331
-34.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85 ฿423
$5.80 ₴259
121.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22 ฿665
$6.19 ₴277
226.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.74 ฿1,274
$29.48 ₴1,318
31.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74 ฿221
$4.45 ₴199
51.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$778 ฿25.6K
$287 ₴12.9K
170.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿480.2K
$2,857 ₴127.8K
411.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 ฿1,785
$42.74 ₴1,912
27.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45 ฿836
$40.87 ₴1,828
-37.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,101
$90.0 ₴4,023
4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 ฿2,414
$97.0 ₴4,340
-24.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.1K
$210 ₴9,385
133.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ฿9,510
$165 ₴7,391
75.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 ฿29.4K
$409 ₴18.3K
118.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 ฿17.0K
$311 ₴13.9K
65.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,955 ฿64.3K
$564 ₴25.2K
246.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,477 ฿48.5K
$386 ₴17.3K
282.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zaporizhzhya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿19.8K
$474 ₴21.2K
27.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
17.89
-68.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zaporizhzhya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $210 in Zaporizhzhya. 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 27% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $22.00 in Zaporizhzhya. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $157 in Zaporizhzhya – so Zaporizhzhya 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 Zaporizhzhya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Zaporizhzhya?
Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Zaporizhzhya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Zaporizhzhya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,040 in Zaporizhzhya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Zaporizhzhya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zaporizhzhya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Zaporizhzhya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $22.00 in Zaporizhzhya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Zaporizhzhya?
Groceries cost about 53% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Zaporizhzhya?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaporizhzhya, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Zaporizhzhya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Zaporizhzhya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zaporizhzhya costs $693 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Zaporizhzhya?
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 Zaporizhzhya?
If budget matters most, go with Zaporizhzhya. 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.

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