Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizhny Novgorod and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizhny Novgorod and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,131 per month in Nizhny Novgorod vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,776 per month in Nizhny Novgorod vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,420 per month in Nizhny Novgorod vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nizhny Novgorod costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nizhny Novgorod and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nizhny Novgorod 16% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.28 ₽823

$1.94 ฿63.5

481.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.77 ₽2,830

$18.64 ฿609

107.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ₽409

$7.82 ฿255

-28.39%

Cappuccino

$2.66 ₽194

$1.95 ฿63.8

36.41%

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

$1.30 ₽94.7

$0.85 ฿27.77

52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₽30.99

$0.35 ฿11.58

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₽75.5

$2.13 ฿69.6

-51.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₽230

$3.73 ฿122

-15.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽76.7

$1.71 ฿56.0

-38.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₽41.81

$1.63 ฿53.2

-65.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ₽96.0

$1.14 ฿37.15

14.91%

Eggs

$1.53 ₽112

$1.93 ฿63.1

-20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.59 ₽773

$16.21 ฿530

-34.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₽346

$3.12 ฿102

51.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.94 ₽652

$10.90 ฿356

-17.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 ₽128

$2.75 ฿90.0

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₽122

$1.21 ฿39.52

38.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽143

$1.62 ฿53.0

20.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 ₽183

$1.59 ฿51.8

57.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₽51.5

$1.40 ฿45.70

-49.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ₽52.1

$1.17 ฿38.17

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ₽87.9

$0.66 ฿21.60

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽57.1

$0.53 ฿17.22

47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₽213

$4.69 ฿153

-37.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.14 ₽813

$18.66 ฿609

-40.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₽85.4

$1.80 ฿58.8

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₽158

$3.23 ฿106

-32.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽39.01

$0.90 ฿29.26

-41.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.96 ₽1,238

$19.21 ฿628

-11.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₽136

$1.41 ฿45.91

31.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ₽40.38

$1.29 ฿42.12

-57.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 ₽551

$7.84 ฿256

-3.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽57.4

$1.27 ฿41.58

-37.80%

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

$41.4K ₽3.0M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

94.63%

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

$31.7K ₽2.3M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

42.69%

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

$111 ₽8,115

$69.1 ฿2,256

60.97%

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

$5.52 ₽403

$14.08 ฿460

-60.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.45 ₽544

$18.00 ฿588

-58.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.67 ₽2,312

$41.06 ฿1,341

-22.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.12 ₽1,177

$6.96 ฿227

131.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.22 ₽454

$5.92 ฿193

5.07%

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

$332 ₽24.2K

$299 ฿9,766

11.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,874 ₽282.8K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-74.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.6 ₽5,955

$54.7 ฿1,787

49.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.5 ₽5,657

$26.77 ฿874

189.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ₽10.7K

$85.0 ฿2,776

72.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₽8,235

$70.6 ฿2,306

59.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 ₽42.2K

$428 ฿14.0K

35.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₽26.9K

$237 ฿7,752

55.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$984 ₽71.8K

$801 ฿26.2K

22.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₽53.7K

$515 ฿16.8K

42.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,267 ₽311.5K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

116.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,623 ₽191.5K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

77.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 ₽69.2K

$617 ฿20.2K

53.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.46

229.20%

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

Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $578 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $428 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 53% higher in Nizhny Novgorod, 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 $39.00 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Nizhny Novgorod vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Nizhny Novgorod wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Nizhny Novgorod vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizhny Novgorod costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,697 per month in Nizhny Novgorod and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $332 per month in Nizhny Novgorod and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Nizhny Novgorod – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Nizhny Novgorod at $1,131. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nizhny Novgorod it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nizhny Novgorod makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.