😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $712 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,122 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,532 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Zhytomyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Zhytomyr are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Zhytomyr47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$8.70₴391
-77.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$33.95₴1,525
-44.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$6.19₴278
25.20%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$1.17₴52.7
64.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.63₴28.13
25.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.34₴15.45
5.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$0.70₴31.28
215.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$1.48₴66.6
147.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.11₴50.0
48.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.72₴32.48
126.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.38₴61.8
-13.77%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.71₴76.6
16.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$9.52₴428
67.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$3.34₴150
-9.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$5.49₴247
97.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$0.85₴38.29
224.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$1.53₴68.8
-22.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.61₴72.4
1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$2.24₴101
-32.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.86₴38.58
60.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.59₴26.71
101.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$1.23₴55.4
-43.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.58₴26.11
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.87₴129
59.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$4.00₴180
314.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$0.84₴37.85
117.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$1.47₴65.8
117.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.34₴15.48
158.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$9.01₴405
107.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$1.77₴79.4
-23.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.37₴16.73
262.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$4.45₴200
76.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.34₴60.4
-8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$30.6K₴1.4M
-29.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$25.0K₴1.1M
-9.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$75.9₴3,409
-7.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$5.78₴260
136.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$4.35₴196
301.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$28.77₴1,293
43.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$16.32₴733
-57.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$4.77₴215
20.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$172₴7,725
78.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$3,201₴143.8K
356.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$60.6₴2,721
-7.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$32.78₴1,473
-20.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$90.1₴4,048
-4.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$89.7₴4,031
-19.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$251₴11.3K
71.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$198₴8,905
20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$419₴18.8K
95.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$325₴14.6K
57.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$1,086₴48.8K
82.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$860₴38.7K
72.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$391₴17.5K
58.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
19.34
-74.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Zhytomyr: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $251 in Zhytomyr. 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 58% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Zhytomyr. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Zhytomyr – so Zhytomyr 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 Zhytomyr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Zhytomyr?
Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Zhytomyr, 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 vs Zhytomyr?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,069 in Zhytomyr. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Zhytomyr?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhytomyr, 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 Zhytomyr?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $172 in Zhytomyr. 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 Zhytomyr?
Groceries cost about 56% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or Zhytomyr?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $712 in Zhytomyr, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Zhytomyr?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zhytomyr costs $712 versus $869 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 Zhytomyr?
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 Zhytomyr?
If budget matters most, go with Zhytomyr. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared