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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,037 per month in Tomsk vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,606 per month in Tomsk vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,176 per month in Tomsk vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tomsk costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tomsk and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tomsk 23% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.45 ₽485

$1.96 ฿63.6

229.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.79 ₽2,388

$18.81 ฿611

69.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 ₽422

$7.92 ฿258

-29.04%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₽170

$1.91 ฿62.2

18.85%

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

$1.02 ₽76.9

$0.84 ฿27.25

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₽32.24

$0.35 ฿11.44

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 ₽93.4

$2.21 ฿71.7

-43.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₽236

$3.80 ฿124

-17.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₽83.1

$1.64 ฿53.2

-32.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 ₽43.46

$1.62 ฿52.8

-64.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₽139

$1.18 ฿38.40

56.78%

Eggs

$1.72 ₽129

$2.01 ฿65.4

-14.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 ₽823

$15.89 ฿517

-31.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₽413

$3.01 ฿98.0

82.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 ₽674

$10.77 ฿350

-16.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₽154

$2.61 ฿85.0

-21.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₽149

$1.22 ฿39.65

62.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 ₽161

$1.70 ฿55.4

26.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 ₽283

$1.58 ฿51.2

138.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₽52.6

$1.32 ฿42.89

-46.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 ₽40.20

$1.17 ฿38.01

-53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₽79.5

$0.67 ฿21.85

58.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽46.03

$0.56 ฿18.21

8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 ₽194

$4.53 ฿147

-43.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₽594

$18.20 ฿592

-56.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₽70.2

$1.83 ฿59.6

-49.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₽137

$3.23 ฿105

-43.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₽29.63

$0.89 ฿28.83

-56.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.15 ₽1,965

$19.38 ฿630

34.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 ₽126

$1.35 ฿43.95

24.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.86

$1.35 ฿43.79

-81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 ₽456

$8.25 ฿268

-26.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 ₽51.7

$1.27 ฿41.40

-45.67%

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

$31.6K ₽2.4M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

49.31%

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

$40.4K ₽3.0M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

79.89%

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

$114 ₽8,558

$70.2 ฿2,281

62.38%

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

$5.09 ₽382

$13.77 ฿448

-63.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.11 ₽609

$17.60 ฿572

-53.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 ₽4,589

$41.57 ฿1,352

46.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.54 ₽1,919

$6.60 ฿215

286.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 ₽417

$5.78 ฿188

-3.98%

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

$75.0 ₽5,635

$306 ฿9,953

-75.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,392 ₽330.0K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-70.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.7 ₽5,612

$54.4 ฿1,768

37.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.43 ₽2,587

$26.14 ฿850

31.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 ₽10.1K

$84.5 ฿2,748

59.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$185 ₽13.9K

$69.4 ฿2,257

166.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₽33.4K

$424 ฿13.8K

4.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 ₽20.9K

$238 ฿7,743

16.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₽56.6K

$825 ฿26.8K

-8.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₽37.6K

$515 ฿16.7K

-2.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,153 ₽161.8K

$2,049 ฿66.6K

5.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₽113.0K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-1.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$804 ₽60.4K

$635 ฿20.6K

26.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.08

341.60%

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

Last update for Tomsk: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Tomsk versus $424 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 27% higher in Tomsk, 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 $32 in Tomsk versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Tomsk vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Tomsk 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

Tomsk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tomsk costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,555 per month in Tomsk and $1,278 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 $75.0 per month in Tomsk and $306 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 18% cheaper in Tomsk – 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 $852, than in Tomsk at $1,037. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tomsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,037 in Tomsk. 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, Tomsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.