🙂A single person spends $864 per month in Polevskoy vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,369 per month in Polevskoy vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,873 per month in Polevskoy vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Polevskoy is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Polevskoy and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Polevskoy37% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.26₽711
$2.10฿68.8
293.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97₽2,753
$19.84฿651
61.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11₽440
$5.79฿190
-11.74%
Cappuccino
$2.60₽224
$1.83฿60.0
42.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14₽97.8
$0.78฿25.43
46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69₽59.3
$0.31฿10.30
122.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47₽298
$2.34฿76.7
48.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61₽397
$3.70฿121
24.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13₽97.7
$2.03฿66.6
-44.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80₽69.2
$1.60฿52.4
-50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08₽92.7
$1.42฿46.43
-23.94%
Eggs
$1.13₽97.6
$2.18฿71.4
-48.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59₽825
$15.91฿522
-39.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.74₽408
$3.07฿101
54.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.76₽840
$9.87฿324
-1.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₽141
$2.63฿86.2
-37.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₽141
$1.10฿35.94
49.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72₽148
$1.63฿53.5
5.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.11₽182
$1.53฿50.2
37.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66₽56.5
$1.24฿40.84
-46.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50₽43.26
$1.13฿37.11
-55.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47₽126
$0.74฿24.21
98.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54₽46.39
$0.50฿16.37
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70₽232
$4.28฿140
-36.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.89₽508
$17.97฿590
-67.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₽66.6
$1.70฿55.7
-54.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77₽152
$2.90฿95.0
-38.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48₽41.56
$0.94฿30.91
-48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,814
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32₽200
$1.23฿40.48
88.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31₽26.63
$0.53฿17.53
-41.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.02₽604
$2.40฿78.8
192.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80₽69.0
$1.44฿47.22
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K₽2.5M
$21.2K฿695.3K
37.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K₽2.5M
$27.3K฿895.9K
6.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.5₽6,672
$64.9฿2,130
19.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.56₽393
$13.35฿438
-65.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.36₽720
$20.83฿684
-59.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.09₽3,366
$40.42฿1,326
-3.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48₽1,850
$3.95฿130
443.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.87₽505
$6.71฿220
-12.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319₽27.4K
$787฿25.8K
-59.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,896₽507.7K
$15.1K฿496.2K
-61.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.64₽3,930
$56.2฿1,845
-18.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.66₽2,554
$24.95฿819
18.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6₽7,458
$92.7฿3,042
-6.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.0₽4,480
$75.1฿2,465
-30.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470₽40.5K
$484฿15.9K
-2.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$272₽23.4K
$287฿9,425
-5.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878₽75.6K
$910฿29.8K
-3.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466₽40.1K
$531฿17.4K
-12.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,268₽195.3K
$1,980฿65.0K
14.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,337₽115.2K
$1,451฿47.6K
-7.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Polevskoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.34
5.57
265.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Polevskoy: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Polevskoy versus $484 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 $32.00 in Polevskoy versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Polevskoy vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Polevskoy 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
Polevskoy vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Polevskoy or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Polevskoy, 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 Polevskoy and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,296 per month in Polevskoy and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Polevskoy or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Polevskoy, 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 Polevskoy and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Polevskoy 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 Polevskoy or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% 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 $2,000/month in Polevskoy or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Polevskoy, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Polevskoy 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, Polevskoy or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Polevskoy costs $864 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Polevskoy 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 Polevskoy or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Polevskoy. 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.