🙂A single person spends $670 per month in Kharkiv vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,073 per month in Kharkiv vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,476 per month in Kharkiv vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kharkiv is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kharkiv and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kharkiv50% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.08₴316
$1.96฿65.8
261.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.72₴1,194
$18.35฿617
45.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.94₴265
$7.48฿252
-20.59%
Cappuccino
$1.29₴57.5
$2.02฿67.8
-36.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₴26.95
$0.85฿28.50
-29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₴19.69
$0.36฿11.96
22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98₴43.57
$2.14฿71.8
-54.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53₴68.5
$3.59฿121
-57.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06₴47.17
$1.65฿55.5
-35.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62₴27.59
$1.57฿52.7
-60.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27₴56.7
$1.19฿40.02
6.72%
Eggs
$1.63₴72.6
$1.94฿65.1
-15.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.93₴354
$16.19฿544
-51.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.92₴175
$2.99฿101
31.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.60₴295
$10.94฿368
-39.67%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86₴38.52
$2.71฿91.2
-68.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62₴72.2
$1.17฿39.25
38.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₴84.9
$1.69฿56.7
12.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26₴101
$1.60฿54.0
41.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₴29.86
$1.38฿46.54
-51.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₴25.19
$1.20฿40.45
-53.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03₴46.13
$0.67฿22.50
53.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54₴23.94
$0.56฿18.73
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54₴113
$4.64฿156
-45.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.41₴197
$17.62฿593
-74.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75₴33.62
$1.86฿62.5
-59.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32₴58.8
$3.30฿111
-60.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₴16.58
$0.88฿29.68
-57.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿650
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47₴65.6
$1.36฿45.90
8.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₴10.26
$1.34฿44.98
-82.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88₴129
$8.21฿276
-64.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40₴62.5
$1.22฿41.18
14.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K₴1.2M
$21.4K฿718.1K
29.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K₴1.1M
$22.5K฿757.7K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115₴5,119
$70.7฿2,376
62.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.38₴240
$14.04฿472
-61.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.27₴280
$17.49฿588
-64.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.27₴1,129
$42.15฿1,417
-40.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.00₴715
$6.88฿231
132.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81₴215
$5.92฿199
-18.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355₴15.9K
$309฿10.4K
15.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,213₴143.5K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-78.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6₴2,529
$55.8฿1,875
1.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.07₴1,790
$26.11฿878
53.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2₴3,715
$83.0฿2,792
0.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101₴4,515
$70.5฿2,369
43.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$183₴8,186
$432฿14.5K
-57.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134₴5,974
$239฿8,035
-44.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365₴16.3K
$822฿27.7K
-55.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$243₴10.9K
$512฿17.2K
-52.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,081₴48.3K
$1,915฿64.4K
-43.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$572₴25.5K
$1,467฿49.3K
-61.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kharkiv
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532₴23.8K
$579฿19.5K
-8.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
5
240.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kharkiv: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $183 in Kharkiv versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 9% 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 $27.00 in Kharkiv versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $153 in Kharkiv vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Kharkiv 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
Kharkiv vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kharkiv or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Kharkiv, 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 Kharkiv and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,005 per month in Kharkiv and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kharkiv or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kharkiv, 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 Kharkiv and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Kharkiv and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kharkiv or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 59% 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 Kharkiv or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $670 in Kharkiv and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kharkiv or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharkiv costs $670 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kharkiv compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Kharkiv or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kharkiv. 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.