😐A single person spends $1,103 per month in Magadan vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,766 per month in Magadan vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,428 per month in Magadan vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Magadan costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Magadan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Magadan17% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60₽764
$2.04฿68.2
370.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5₽5,050
$18.71฿624
239.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.55₽442
$7.86฿262
-29.39%
Cappuccino
$3.11₽248
$2.03฿67.7
53.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₽123
$0.80฿26.64
92.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05₽83.8
$0.35฿11.68
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42₽113
$2.14฿71.5
-33.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57₽205
$3.67฿122
-29.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62₽129
$1.73฿57.6
-6.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06₽84.3
$1.57฿52.4
-32.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42₽113
$1.20฿39.99
18.33%
Eggs
$2.99₽238
$1.97฿65.8
51.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10₽1,202
$16.23฿541
-6.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88₽707
$3.06฿102
190.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74₽1,253
$10.80฿360
45.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80₽143
$2.77฿92.3
-35.02%
Banana(1kg)
$3.50₽278
$1.17฿38.94
199.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09₽246
$1.71฿57.0
80.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80₽223
$1.59฿53.2
76.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34₽107
$1.39฿46.51
-3.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17₽92.9
$1.16฿38.56
0.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85₽67.8
$0.66฿22.05
28.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22₽97.5
$0.52฿17.31
134.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19₽254
$4.65฿155
-31.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.19₽971
$17.78฿593
-31.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₽81.9
$1.79฿59.6
-42.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51₽200
$3.34฿111
-24.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99₽78.8
$0.91฿30.27
8.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51₽120
$1.41฿47.04
7.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽25.91
$1.34฿44.70
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26₽498
$8.11฿270
-22.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77₽61.1
$1.23฿41.16
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K₽2.7M
$21.4K฿715.1K
57.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K₽2.8M
$21.8K฿728.0K
62.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₽8,863
$71.3฿2,379
56.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.92₽471
$14.01฿467
-57.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.74₽616
$17.93฿598
-56.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.71₽2,842
$40.82฿1,362
-12.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.22₽415
$5.72฿191
-8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325₽25.9K
$308฿10.3K
5.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,043₽560.6K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-52.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7₽5,471
$55.8฿1,860
23.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.94₽3,497
$26.04฿869
68.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₽9,200
$84.8฿2,829
36.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107₽8,532
$71.0฿2,368
51.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439₽35.0K
$423฿14.1K
3.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300₽23.9K
$242฿8,088
23.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776₽61.8K
$797฿26.6K
-2.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517₽41.2K
$507฿16.9K
2.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magadan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,019₽81.1K
$595฿19.9K
71.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Magadan: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Magadan versus $423 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 71% higher in Magadan, 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 $63.0 in Magadan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Magadan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Magadan or Chiang Mai?
Magadan costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Magadan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,655 per month in Magadan and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Magadan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Magadan and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Magadan and $19.00 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 Magadan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Magadan, 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 Magadan or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Magadan at $1,103. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Magadan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Magadan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,103 in Magadan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Magadan 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 Magadan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Magadan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.