😐A single person spends $979 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,503 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,027 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Novoshakhtinsk costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Novoshakhtinsk and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Novoshakhtinsk27% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60₽746
$2.03฿68.2
372.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.68₽3,006
$18.71฿629
106.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67₽441
$7.84฿263
-27.68%
Cappuccino
$2.26₽176
$1.93฿64.7
17.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13₽87.6
$0.83฿27.92
36.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₽37.55
$0.35฿11.77
37.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43₽111
$2.22฿74.6
-35.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52₽196
$3.79฿127
-33.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12₽86.7
$1.65฿55.3
-32.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₽55.4
$1.55฿52.1
-54.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38₽107
$1.18฿39.69
16.95%
Eggs
$1.80₽140
$2.01฿67.7
-10.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03₽857
$16.16฿543
-31.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.78₽372
$3.03฿102
57.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98₽698
$10.84฿364
-17.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₽135
$2.68฿90.0
-35.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87₽145
$1.22฿41.03
53.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98₽154
$1.63฿54.6
21.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75₽214
$1.53฿51.3
79.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79₽61.0
$1.34฿44.98
-41.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72₽55.6
$1.21฿40.75
-40.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₽106
$0.70฿23.57
94.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽55.8
$0.53฿17.65
35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₽230
$4.69฿157
-37.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.55₽509
$17.71฿595
-63.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94₽73.1
$1.85฿62.0
-49.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86₽145
$3.21฿108
-42.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽41.01
$0.89฿29.93
-40.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.76฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88₽146
$1.41฿47.27
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₽27.33
$1.29฿43.40
-72.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26₽487
$7.79฿262
-19.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74₽57.2
$1.29฿43.47
-42.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K₽2.6M
$21.8K฿731.4K
55.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K₽2.7M
$21.7K฿728.8K
60.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₽8,606
$70.0฿2,351
58.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.81₽451
$14.19฿477
-59.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98₽620
$17.42฿585
-54.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.20₽2,736
$41.64฿1,399
-15.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.89฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98₽387
$5.78฿194
-13.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320₽24.8K
$300฿10.1K
6.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,044₽547.5K
$14.5K฿487.9K
-51.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0₽5,360
$55.4฿1,860
24.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.73₽3,477
$26.31฿884
70.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₽9,040
$84.8฿2,851
37.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106₽8,207
$70.5฿2,368
49.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437₽34.0K
$425฿14.3K
2.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₽23.7K
$235฿7,898
29.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769₽59.8K
$802฿27.0K
-4.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$509₽39.5K
$516฿17.3K
-1.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,961₽152.5K
$1,926฿64.7K
1.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,692₽131.5K
$1,451฿48.7K
16.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novoshakhtinsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$586฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
5
206.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novoshakhtinsk: July 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $425 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Novoshakhtinsk vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Novoshakhtinsk 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
Novoshakhtinsk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Novoshakhtinsk or Chiang Mai?
Novoshakhtinsk costs about 16% 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 Novoshakhtinsk and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,468 per month in Novoshakhtinsk and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Novoshakhtinsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Novoshakhtinsk or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Novoshakhtinsk at $979. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novoshakhtinsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Novoshakhtinsk or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $979 in Novoshakhtinsk. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novoshakhtinsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Novoshakhtinsk vs other spots: cost of living compared