🙂A single person spends $936 per month in Kostanay vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Kostanay vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Kostanay vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kostanay is about 1% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Kostanay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kostanay32% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45₸2,484
$2.08฿68.6
162.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.71₸13.1K
$19.64฿646
46.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.19₸3,276
$5.65฿186
27.26%
Cappuccino
$2.13₸972
$1.81฿59.4
17.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₸522
$0.71฿23.45
61.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₸378
$0.32฿10.38
159.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39₸634
$2.24฿73.6
-37.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53₸1,151
$3.63฿119
-30.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24₸565
$1.96฿64.4
-36.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₸219
$1.50฿49.39
-68.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₸469
$1.34฿43.93
-23.13%
Eggs
$2.20₸1,002
$2.26฿74.5
-2.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03₸4,568
$16.26฿535
-38.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.70₸2,599
$2.95฿97.1
93.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59₸3,913
$9.94฿327
-13.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58₸722
$2.57฿84.6
-38.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26₸1,032
$1.06฿34.73
113.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₸854
$1.61฿53.0
16.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₸1,034
$1.52฿49.97
49.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54₸246
$1.27฿41.77
-57.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62₸281
$1.07฿35.06
-42.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₸541
$0.72฿23.68
65.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₸417
$0.51฿16.72
80.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41₸1,097
$4.19฿138
-42.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05₸3,669
$17.87฿587
-54.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10₸500
$1.69฿55.7
-34.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₸1,047
$2.84฿93.3
-19.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₸144
$0.93฿30.43
-65.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,771
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94₸427
$1.23฿40.59
-23.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06₸484
$0.58฿18.96
82.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.85₸2,664
$2.42฿79.7
141.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54₸246
$1.41฿46.43
-61.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K₸14.0M
$21.4K฿705.1K
42.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K₸13.3M
$27.3K฿898.7K
6.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.3₸34.3K
$63.7฿2,093
18.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.72₸4,883
$12.85฿423
-16.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.65₸7,128
$20.22฿665
-22.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.28₸21.1K
$38.74฿1,274
19.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.86₸9,048
$3.97฿130
400.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20₸1,913
$6.74฿222
-37.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207₸94.3K
$778฿25.6K
-73.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,436₸2.9M
$14.6K฿480.4K
-55.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3₸42.0K
$54.3฿1,785
69.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7₸24.0K
$25.45฿837
106.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106₸48.5K
$94.3฿3,102
12.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3₸40.7K
$73.4฿2,415
21.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388₸176.9K
$490฿16.1K
-20.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304₸138.4K
$289฿9,512
5.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580₸264.4K
$894฿29.4K
-35.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471₸214.8K
$517฿17.0K
-8.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,190₸541.9K
$1,955฿64.3K
-39.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$910₸414.6K
$1,477฿48.6K
-38.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostanay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₸294.5K
$602฿19.8K
7.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.5
5.57
232.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Kostanay versus $490 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 7% higher in Kostanay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kostanay versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Kostanay vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Kostanay 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
Kostanay vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kostanay or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kostanay, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Kostanay and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,404 per month in Kostanay and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kostanay or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostanay, 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 Kostanay and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kostanay and $20.00 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 Kostanay or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,000/month in Kostanay or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kostanay or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostanay costs $936 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kostanay 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 Kostanay or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kostanay. 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.