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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $624 in Zhlobin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,058 in Zhlobin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,493 in Zhlobin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Zhlobin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Zhlobin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Zhlobin 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$9.55 BYN 29.23

-78.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$49.06 BYN 150

-59.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.20 BYN 22.04

-21.53%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.33 BYN 7.13

-22.32%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.99 BYN 3.03

-28.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.59 BYN 1.81

-45.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.46 BYN 4.46

53.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.51 BYN 7.69

44.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.94 BYN 2.89

108.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.67 BYN 2.05

123.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.27 BYN 3.89

5.51%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.53 BYN 4.69

47.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$7.66 BYN 23.43

112.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.15 BYN 15.75

-42.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$10.68 BYN 32.68

-6.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.54 BYN 4.73

66.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.68 BYN 5.13

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.09 BYN 6.39

-22.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.77 BYN 8.47

-45.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.67 BYN 2.04

89.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.72 BYN 2.20

48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.65 BYN 5.04

-56.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.62 BYN 1.90

-17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.63 BYN 8.06

59.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.00 BYN 24.49

123.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.02 BYN 3.14

65.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.91 BYN 5.84

48.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.35 BYN 1.08

165.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$12.62 BYN 38.61

326.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.60 BYN 4.90

-23.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.50 BYN 1.54

16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$9.62 BYN 29.43

-74.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.89 BYN 2.74

58.43%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$23.3K BYN 71.2K

-7.90%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$22.1K BYN 67.8K

23.45%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$59.6 BYN 182

6.83%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$8.21 BYN 25.11

56.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$13.11 BYN 40.10

54.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$32.67 BYN 100.0

18.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.96 BYN 18.23

13.09%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$370 BYN 1,131

110.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$24.2K BYN 74.0K

-39.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$51.6 BYN 158

5.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$44.96 BYN 138

-43.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$107 BYN 327

-11.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$109 BYN 334

-32.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$344 BYN 1,051

42.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$511 BYN 1,563

74.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,233 BYN 3,774

58.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$804 BYN 2,460

83.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

15.92

-65.01%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zhlobin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $344 in Zhlobin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Zhlobin. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $190 in Zhlobin – so Zhlobin 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 Zhlobin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Zhlobin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $935 in Zhlobin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhlobin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $370 in Zhlobin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhlobin, where all-in costs run around $624, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Zhlobin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zhlobin costs $624 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Zhlobin. 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.