Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Velikiye Luki and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,077 in Velikiye Luki, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Velikiye Luki, Russia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Velikiye Luki
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,077
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Velikiye Luki and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Velikiye Luki and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,077 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Velikiye Luki $1,077
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,678 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Velikiye Luki $1,678
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Velikiye Luki $2,279
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Velikiye Luki costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Velikiye Luki and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Velikiye Luki 21% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.70 ₽942
$2.24 ฿75.7
422.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.20 ₽3,075
$19.00 ฿642
101.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 ₽496
$5.55 ฿188
10.99%
Cappuccino
$2.70 ₽217
$1.67 ฿56.6
61.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₽88.6
$0.64 ฿21.56
71.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₽50.3
$0.31 ฿10.32
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₽144
$2.36 ฿79.6
-24.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ₽246
$3.66 ฿124
-16.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 ₽95.1
$1.95 ฿65.8
-39.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₽58.2
$1.44 ฿48.51
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ₽111
$1.33 ฿45.07
4.51%
Eggs
$1.60 ₽129
$2.28 ฿77.1
-29.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 ₽929
$16.45 ฿556
-29.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.20 ₽419
$2.78 ฿94.0
87.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.27 ₽907
$9.31 ฿314
21.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 ₽139
$2.35 ฿79.5
-26.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₽147
$0.97 ฿32.82
88.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 ₽142
$1.60 ฿53.9
10.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 ₽215
$1.50 ฿50.7
77.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 ₽64.0
$1.28 ฿43.15
-37.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₽47.08
$1.10 ฿37.22
-47.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₽109
$0.71 ฿23.84
91.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₽57.3
$0.49 ฿16.38
44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 ₽241
$4.14 ฿140
-27.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 ₽648
$17.52 ฿592
-54.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 ₽85.9
$1.61 ฿54.5
-33.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₽158
$2.78 ฿94.0
-29.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ₽42.07
$0.87 ฿29.33
-40.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.05 ₽2,339
$54.1 ฿1,827
-46.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 ₽198
$1.16 ฿39.08
112.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ₽30.21
$0.53 ฿17.82
-28.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.63 ₽453
$2.42 ฿81.8
132.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 ₽65.8
$1.45 ฿48.93
-43.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.7K ₽4.2M
$21.1K ฿711.2K
145.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K ₽3.2M
$26.9K ฿909.8K
47.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ₽9,792
$62.2 ฿2,100
95.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.40 ₽516
$12.17 ฿411
-47.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.68 ₽699
$20.12 ฿680
-56.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.53 ₽2,860
$37.31 ฿1,260
-4.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.24 ₽1,951
$3.77 ฿127
542.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₽517
$6.49 ฿219
-1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 ₽28.4K
$736 ฿24.9K
-52.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,288 ₽506.1K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-57.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.3 ₽6,465
$53.4 ฿1,802
50.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 ₽4,245
$24.64 ฿832
114.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 ₽9,808
$91.5 ฿3,089
33.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₽8,313
$71.9 ฿2,429
43.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 ₽37.7K
$482 ฿16.3K
-2.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 ₽25.8K
$309 ฿10.4K
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₽71.8K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-11.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 ₽45.7K
$633 ฿21.4K
-10.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,279 ₽183.4K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-3.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,476 ₽118.8K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-7.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.45
5.57
285.10%

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

Last update for Velikiye Luki: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Velikiye Luki
$320
Chiang Mai
$309 3.6% $12
Groceries & Markets
Velikiye Luki
$208
Chiang Mai
$234 12.5% $26
Eating Out
Velikiye Luki
$166
Chiang Mai
$78 53.4% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Velikiye Luki
$161
Chiang Mai
$109 32.6% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Velikiye Luki
$137
Chiang Mai
$94 30.9% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Velikiye Luki
$48
Chiang Mai
$50 3.9% $1.9
Getting Around
Velikiye Luki
$35
Chiang Mai
$61 72.9% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Velikiye Luki versus $482 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 $38 in Velikiye Luki versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Velikiye Luki vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Velikiye Luki wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Velikiye Luki
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:02 3:02 PM
19:02 7:02 PM
4 h ahead of Velikiye Luki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
86,711
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.49 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.59 RUB (100 RUB = 1.12 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Velikiye Luki Chiang Mai 6,960 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Velikiye Luki
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Velikiye Luki vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Velikiye Luki or Chiang Mai?
Velikiye Luki costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Velikiye Luki and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,616 per month in Velikiye Luki and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Velikiye Luki compared to Chiang Mai?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $468 in Velikiye Luki and $482 in Chiang Mai. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Velikiye Luki and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $352 per month in Velikiye Luki and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Velikiye Luki or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Velikiye Luki – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Velikiye Luki or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,077 in Velikiye Luki and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Velikiye Luki or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,077 in Velikiye Luki. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Velikiye Luki vs other spots: cost of living compared

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