ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $726 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,136 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,547 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 17% more than Zhytomyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Zhytomyr are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Zhytomyr46% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$8.41âī370
-76.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$33.98âī1,497
-44.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$5.87âī259
34.92%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.17âī51.4
63.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.62âī27.51
35.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.37âī16.35
-5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$0.74âī32.62
198.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$1.44âī63.3
163.89%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.12âī49.27
46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.68âī29.83
138.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$1.41âī62.0
-16.31%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$1.78âī78.4
12.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$9.36âī412
69.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$3.41âī150
-11.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$5.33âī235
102.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$0.79âī34.66
230.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.53âī67.4
-20.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$1.61âī71.1
5.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$2.29âī101
-31.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.86âī37.80
53.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.58âī25.73
101.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$1.19âī52.3
-43.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.55âī24.08
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$2.95âī130
53.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$3.31âī146
449.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$0.83âī36.76
120.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$1.52âī67.2
112.50%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.34âī15.16
161.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$8.86âī390
118.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$1.82âī80.4
-25.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.38âī16.61
255.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$4.36âī192
89.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.35âī59.4
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$31.6Kâī1.4M
-32.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$24.4Kâī1.1M
-7.74%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$74.3âī3,275
-5.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$5.48âī242
151.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$4.32âī190
307.41%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$28.82âī1,270
44.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$16.05âī707
-58.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$4.79âī211
20.67%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$172âī7,581
77.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$3,161âī139.3K
369.07%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$59.8âī2,635
-9.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$32.04âī1,412
-18.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$89.1âī3,925
-5.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$89.7âī3,951
-22.55%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$252âī11.1K
68.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$196âī8,656
21.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$418âī18.4K
97.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$324âī14.3K
58.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,133âī49.9K
80.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$860âī37.9K
77.08%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zhytomyr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$373âī16.4K
70.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
19.34
-74.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Zhytomyr: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $252 in Zhytomyr. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 70% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Zhytomyr. Groceries tell a different story â $243 in Chiang Mai vs $152 in Zhytomyr â 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 17% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,088 in Zhytomyr. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 $306 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 60% 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 â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $726 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 $726 versus $852 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 â 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