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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $835 per month in Ulyanovsk vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Ulyanovsk vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,642 per month in Ulyanovsk vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ulyanovsk is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ulyanovsk and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ulyanovsk 38% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.93 ₽652
$1.94 ฿63.5
360.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.68 ₽2,312
$18.64 ฿609
69.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 ₽408
$7.82 ฿255
-28.64%
Cappuccino
$2.41 ₽176
$1.95 ฿63.8
23.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₽81.0
$0.85 ฿27.77
30.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₽33.36
$0.35 ฿11.58
31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.85 ₽61.8
$2.13 ฿69.6
-60.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₽122
$3.73 ฿122
-55.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₽80.6
$1.71 ฿56.0
-35.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ₽47.23
$1.63 ฿53.2
-60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ₽86.8
$1.14 ฿37.15
4.39%
Eggs
$1.57 ₽114
$1.93 ฿63.1
-18.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 ₽682
$16.21 ฿530
-42.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 ₽347
$3.12 ฿102
52.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.51 ₽621
$10.90 ฿356
-21.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 ₽90.9
$2.75 ฿90.0
-54.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₽109
$1.21 ฿39.52
23.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ₽107
$1.62 ฿53.0
-9.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 ₽127
$1.59 ฿51.8
9.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₽48.62
$1.40 ฿45.70
-52.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 ₽28.68
$1.17 ฿38.17
-66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 ₽128
$0.66 ฿21.60
165.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₽39.40
$0.53 ฿17.22
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 ₽101
$4.69 ฿153
-70.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.98 ₽363
$18.66 ฿609
-73.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₽66.7
$1.80 ฿58.8
-49.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₽129
$3.23 ฿106
-45.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ₽31.58
$0.90 ฿29.26
-52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿628
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₽135
$1.41 ฿45.91
31.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 ₽13.75
$1.29 ฿42.12
-85.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 ₽286
$7.84 ฿256
-50.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 ₽55.4
$1.27 ฿41.58
-40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7K ₽3.6M
$21.3K ฿694.9K
128.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.7K ₽3.3M
$22.2K ฿725.4K
101.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₽7,465
$69.1 ฿2,256
48.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.47 ₽399
$14.08 ฿460
-61.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.59 ₽408
$18.00 ฿588
-68.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.95 ₽2,624
$41.06 ฿1,341
-12.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 ₽297
$5.92 ฿193
-31.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$89.2 ₽6,511
$299 ฿9,766
-70.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,038 ₽440.7K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-59.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100 ₽7,317
$54.7 ฿1,787
83.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.92 ₽3,498
$26.77 ฿874
79.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.2 ₽6,364
$85.0 ฿2,776
2.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.7 ₽5,523
$70.6 ฿2,306
7.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$316 ₽23.0K
$428 ฿14.0K
-26.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$234 ₽17.1K
$237 ฿7,752
-1.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$565 ₽41.2K
$801 ฿26.2K
-29.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₽22.2K
$515 ฿16.8K
-40.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,443 ₽178.3K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
23.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,482 ₽108.2K
$1,475 ฿48.2K
0.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulyanovsk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$742 ₽54.1K
$617 ฿20.2K
20.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.33
5
206.60%

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

Last update for Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Ulyanovsk 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 20% higher in Ulyanovsk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ulyanovsk versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Ulyanovsk vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Ulyanovsk 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
Ulyanovsk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Ulyanovsk, 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 Ulyanovsk vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,253 per month in Ulyanovsk and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulyanovsk, 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 Ulyanovsk vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ulyanovsk and $19.00 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 Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 45% 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 $800/month in Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $835 in Ulyanovsk and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulyanovsk costs $835 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ulyanovsk. 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.

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