Cost of Living Comparison Between Rostov-on-Don and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Rostov-on-Don and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $996 per month in Rostov-on-Don vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,555 per month in Rostov-on-Don vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,113 per month in Rostov-on-Don vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rostov-on-Don costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rostov-on-Don and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Rostov-on-Don 26% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₽829

$1.94 ฿63.6

479.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.44 ₽2,836

$18.64 ฿609

106.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 ₽369

$7.82 ฿256

-36.19%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₽186

$1.95 ฿63.9

28.72%

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

$1.20 ₽88.8

$0.85 ฿27.80

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₽51.5

$0.35 ฿11.60

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 ₽91.3

$2.13 ฿69.7

-41.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₽168

$3.73 ฿122

-38.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ₽75.4

$1.71 ฿56.0

-40.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₽40.41

$1.63 ฿53.3

-66.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₽84.9

$1.14 ฿37.18

0.88%

Eggs

$1.57 ₽116

$1.93 ฿63.2

-18.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₽599

$16.21 ฿530

-49.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 ₽352

$3.12 ฿102

52.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.38 ₽545

$10.90 ฿356

-32.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 ₽93.2

$2.75 ฿90.1

-54.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽121

$1.21 ฿39.56

36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ₽108

$1.62 ฿53.0

-9.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₽178

$1.59 ฿51.9

51.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ₽53.0

$1.40 ฿45.75

-48.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 ₽41.22

$1.17 ฿38.20

-52.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₽87.7

$0.66 ฿21.62

80.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽50.0

$0.53 ฿17.24

28.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₽245

$4.69 ฿153

-29.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 ₽586

$18.66 ฿610

-57.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽67.5

$1.80 ฿58.8

-49.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₽156

$3.23 ฿106

-34.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₽37.82

$0.90 ฿29.28

-43.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.86 ₽1,392

$19.21 ฿628

-1.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₽143

$1.41 ฿45.96

37.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ₽26.16

$1.29 ฿42.16

-72.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 ₽469

$7.84 ฿256

-18.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽57.8

$1.27 ฿41.62

-38.58%

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

$25.3K ₽1.9M

$21.3K ฿695.5K

18.91%

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

$39.9K ₽2.9M

$22.2K ฿726.1K

79.52%

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

$96.2 ₽7,100

$69.1 ฿2,258

39.31%

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

$7.01 ₽517

$14.08 ฿460

-50.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.06 ₽595

$18.00 ฿588

-55.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.50 ₽2,989

$41.06 ฿1,342

-1.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.14 ₽1,855

$6.96 ฿227

261.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 ₽365

$5.92 ฿193

-16.55%

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

$288 ₽21.2K

$299 ฿9,775

-3.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,215 ₽606.2K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-45.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.54 ₽3,582

$54.7 ฿1,788

-11.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.3 ₽4,599

$26.77 ฿875

132.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ₽8,322

$85.0 ฿2,778

32.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₽7,504

$70.6 ฿2,308

44.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ₽36.1K

$428 ฿14.0K

14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ₽25.9K

$237 ฿7,759

47.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 ₽69.1K

$801 ฿26.2K

16.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$576 ₽42.5K

$515 ฿16.9K

11.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,807 ₽207.1K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

42.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,738 ₽128.3K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

17.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$966 ₽71.3K

$617 ฿20.2K

56.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

226.60%

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

Last update for Rostov-on-Don: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Rostov-on-Don 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 56% higher in Rostov-on-Don, 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 $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $172 in Rostov-on-Don vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Rostov-on-Don 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

Rostov-on-Don vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rostov-on-Don costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Rostov-on-Don 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 $288 per month in Rostov-on-Don 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 43% cheaper in Rostov-on-Don – 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 Rostov-on-Don at $996. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rostov-on-Don it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $996 in Rostov-on-Don. 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, Rostov-on-Don makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.