🙂A single person spends $896 per month in Shchelkovo vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,407 per month in Shchelkovo vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Shchelkovo vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Shchelkovo is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shchelkovo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Shchelkovo35% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.79₽487
$2.08฿69.3
178.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.30₽2,465
$19.61฿653
49.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.77₽653
$5.67฿189
37.04%
Cappuccino
$2.77₽233
$1.81฿60.1
53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89₽74.9
$0.77฿25.58
15.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₽48.24
$0.35฿11.49
62.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.90₽75.5
$2.21฿73.7
-59.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43₽121
$3.79฿126
-62.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95₽79.6
$2.05฿68.2
-53.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₽66.1
$1.51฿50.4
-47.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15₽96.4
$1.40฿46.57
-17.86%
Eggs
$1.53₽129
$2.26฿75.2
-32.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88₽747
$16.19฿539
-45.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83₽406
$2.90฿96.4
66.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57₽974
$9.42฿314
22.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55₽130
$2.68฿89.2
-42.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43₽121
$1.09฿36.28
31.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50₽126
$1.62฿53.8
-7.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52₽212
$1.46฿48.61
72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69₽58.3
$1.28฿42.54
-46.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₽33.13
$1.06฿35.21
-63.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37₽115
$0.72฿23.88
90.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43₽35.80
$0.53฿17.51
-18.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10₽177
$4.23฿141
-50.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.89₽580
$18.29฿609
-62.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₽59.5
$1.63฿54.3
-56.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48₽125
$2.90฿96.6
-48.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽41.04
$0.88฿29.24
-44.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40₽286
$1.17฿39.04
190.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.16₽13.61
$0.58฿19.25
-72.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42₽288
$2.39฿79.4
43.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽63.7
$1.45฿48.28
-47.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K₽2.9M
$21.0K฿699.5K
63.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.6K₽3.9M
$26.4K฿879.7K
76.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101₽8,527
$63.7฿2,119
59.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.42₽288
$12.89฿429
-73.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.62₽389
$20.52฿683
-77.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.45₽2,899
$39.02฿1,299
-11.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.93₽1,929
$3.92฿130
484.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94₽500
$6.58฿219
-9.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176₽14.8K
$784฿26.1K
-77.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,491₽293.7K
$14.7K฿488.4K
-76.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.33₽3,478
$55.1฿1,835
-25.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.17₽1,949
$24.74฿824
-6.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138₽11.6K
$94.1฿3,133
46.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118₽9,934
$74.0฿2,462
59.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$446₽37.5K
$490฿16.3K
-9.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304₽25.6K
$288฿9,594
5.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$786₽66.1K
$891฿29.7K
-11.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$529₽44.5K
$521฿17.3K
1.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,232₽187.8K
$1,974฿65.7K
13.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,434₽120.6K
$1,444฿48.1K
-0.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shchelkovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.75
5.57
272.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shchelkovo: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Shchelkovo versus $490 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 $29.00 in Shchelkovo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Shchelkovo vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Shchelkovo 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
Shchelkovo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Shchelkovo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Shchelkovo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Shchelkovo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,344 per month in Shchelkovo and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Shchelkovo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shchelkovo, 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 Shchelkovo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,500/month in Shchelkovo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shchelkovo, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Shchelkovo 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, Shchelkovo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shchelkovo costs $896 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Shchelkovo. 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.
Shchelkovo vs other spots: cost of living compared