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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $750 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,504 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Zhytomyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Zhytomyr are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Zhytomyr 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$8.81 ₴396

-76.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿664

$26.33 ₴1,184

-24.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$4.69 ₴211

18.98%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.0

$1.39 ₴62.7

25.18%

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

$0.72 ฿24.01

$0.55 ₴24.85

30.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.67

$0.35 ₴15.90

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.1

$0.68 ₴30.73

230.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$1.38 ₴62.0

176.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$1.03 ₴46.34

96.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.68 ₴30.46

130.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.58

$1.49 ₴66.9

-6.04%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.75 ₴78.6

22.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿522

$8.75 ₴394

78.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.3

$3.59 ₴162

-17.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

$5.11 ₴230

85.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.9

$0.89 ₴39.93

192.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.08

$1.42 ₴63.8

-23.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.1

$1.46 ₴65.8

8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.47

$3.30 ₴148

-56.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.60

$0.61 ₴27.43

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.07

$0.58 ₴26.30

91.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.23

$1.10 ₴49.68

-33.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.57 ₴25.78

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$3.60 ₴162

18.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿590

$3.96 ₴178

346.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$0.77 ₴34.61

118.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.5

$1.41 ₴63.5

98.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.87

$0.35 ₴15.79

148.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,808

$11.04 ₴497

390.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.47

$2.04 ₴91.8

-40.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.98

$0.35 ₴15.89

54.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$3.35 ₴151

-28.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.84

$1.45 ₴65.1

0.69%

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

$21.0K ฿701.2K

$29.3K ₴1.3M

-28.21%

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

$26.7K ฿890.8K

$24.1K ₴1.1M

10.79%

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

$62.1 ฿2,071

$82.0 ₴3,689

-24.33%

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

$12.93 ฿431

$4.95 ₴223

161.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿688

$4.09 ₴184

403.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,308

$26.17 ₴1,177

49.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$16.05 ₴722

-76.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿217

$4.60 ₴207

41.74%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$195 ₴8,748

312.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.4K

$3,105 ₴139.6K

373.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,864

$56.5 ₴2,540

-1.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿851

$27.27 ₴1,226

-6.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,039

$84.0 ₴3,775

8.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,446

$85.8 ₴3,860

-14.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

$331 ₴14.9K

46.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,617

$220 ₴9,896

30.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.5K

$470 ₴21.1K

88.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$340 ₴15.3K

54.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.4K

$1,046 ₴47.0K

90.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.1K

$856 ₴38.5K

68.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.1K

$391 ₴17.6K

54.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.6

-71.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Zhytomyr: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $331 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 54% 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 $26.00 in Zhytomyr. Groceries tell a different story – $238 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

Chiang Mai costs about 26% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,126 in Zhytomyr. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $195 in Zhytomyr. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 Zhytomyr, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Zhytomyr 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. Zhytomyr costs $750 versus $942 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 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.