Cost of Living Comparison Between Rustavi and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Rustavi and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $853 per month in Rustavi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,286 per month in Rustavi vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Rustavi vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rustavi and Chiang Mai have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Rustavi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Rustavi 36% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.07 ₾28.96
$2.04 ฿68.1
442.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.98 ₾75.9
$18.71 ฿624
54.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 ₾21.42
$7.86 ฿262
4.20%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ₾5.02
$2.03 ฿67.6
-5.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.00
$0.80 ฿26.63
-5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.19
$0.35 ฿11.68
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 ₾5.68
$2.14 ฿71.5
1.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₾7.60
$3.67 ฿122
-20.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₾5.11
$1.73 ฿57.6
12.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.91
$1.57 ฿52.4
-53.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.08
$1.20 ฿39.98
30.00%
Eggs
$2.21 ₾5.79
$1.97 ฿65.8
12.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.46 ₾19.52
$16.23 ฿541
-54.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.70 ₾12.30
$3.06 ฿102
53.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.24 ₾24.17
$10.80 ฿360
-14.44%
Apples (1kg)
$0.88 ₾2.29
$2.77 ฿92.3
-68.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.17
$1.17 ฿38.93
35.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.90
$1.71 ฿56.9
9.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ₾2.68
$1.59 ฿53.2
-35.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$1.39 ฿46.49
-53.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 ₾1.62
$1.16 ฿38.55
-46.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$0.66 ฿22.05
78.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.52 ฿17.30
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 ₾7.91
$4.65 ฿155
-35.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.73 ₾9.77
$17.78 ฿593
-79.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾3.99
$1.79 ฿59.6
-15.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₾6.08
$3.34 ฿111
-30.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₾0.60
$0.91 ฿30.26
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.91 ₾28.56
$18.64 ฿622
-41.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₾3.39
$1.41 ฿47.02
-7.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ₾0.97
$1.34 ฿44.69
-72.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ₾9.66
$8.11 ฿270
-54.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₾2.88
$1.23 ฿41.14
-10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K ₾46.9K
$21.4K ฿714.9K
-16.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,312 ₾24.4K
$21.8K ฿727.8K
-57.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.2 ₾191
$71.3 ฿2,379
2.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.36 ₾19.26
$14.01 ฿467
-47.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81 ₾28.30
$17.93 ฿598
-39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.09 ₾68.3
$40.82 ฿1,361
-36.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22 ₾47.70
$6.88 ฿230
164.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.46 ₾16.92
$5.72 ฿191
12.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$267 ₾698
$308 ฿10.3K
-13.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,182 ₾13.6K
$14.7K ฿489.5K
-64.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3 ₾194
$55.8 ฿1,860
33.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 ₾118
$26.04 ฿868
72.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 ₾281
$84.8 ฿2,828
26.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₾276
$71.0 ฿2,368
48.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 ₾662
$423 ฿14.1K
-40.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ₾621
$242 ฿8,086
-2.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ₾1,146
$797 ฿26.6K
-45.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$295 ₾772
$507 ฿16.9K
-41.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,034 ₾2,706
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-46.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$771 ₾2,018
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-47.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rustavi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$451 ₾1,180
$595 ฿19.8K
-24.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5
137.80%

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

Last update for Rustavi: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Rustavi 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 32% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Rustavi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Rustavi vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Rustavi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Rustavi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rustavi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,280 per month in Rustavi 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, Rustavi 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 Rustavi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Rustavi and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rustavi compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 71% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Rustavi or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $853 in Rustavi and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rustavi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $853 in Rustavi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rustavi 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 Rustavi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rustavi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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