😐A single person spends $966 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,496 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,025 per month in Velikiye Luki vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Velikiye Luki costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Velikiye Luki and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Velikiye Luki27% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.48₽756
$2.04฿68.4
364.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.36₽2,980
$18.71฿626
99.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.58₽445
$7.86฿263
-29.01%
Cappuccino
$2.27₽181
$2.03฿67.9
11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09₽86.8
$0.80฿26.71
36.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51₽40.73
$0.35฿11.71
45.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37₽109
$2.14฿71.7
-35.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61₽209
$3.67฿123
-28.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15₽92.0
$1.73฿57.8
-33.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69₽55.4
$1.57฿52.5
-56.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43₽114
$1.20฿40.10
19.17%
Eggs
$1.71₽136
$1.97฿66.0
-13.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.67₽852
$16.23฿543
-34.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.76₽380
$3.06฿102
55.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59₽685
$10.80฿361
-20.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₽138
$2.77฿92.6
-37.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80₽143
$1.17฿39.05
53.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98₽158
$1.71฿57.1
15.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77₽221
$1.59฿53.3
74.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₽67.1
$1.39฿46.63
-39.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72₽57.6
$1.16฿38.67
-37.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₽108
$0.66฿22.11
106.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽57.8
$0.52฿17.35
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₽237
$4.65฿155
-36.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.70₽1,093
$17.78฿595
-22.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₽81.3
$1.79฿59.8
-43.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₽156
$3.34฿112
-41.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽38.71
$0.91฿30.35
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿624
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.91₽152
$1.41฿47.17
35.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽26.21
$1.34฿44.82
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.23₽497
$8.11฿271
-23.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73₽58.3
$1.23฿41.27
-40.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K₽2.8M
$21.4K฿717.0K
60.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K₽2.8M
$21.8K฿730.0K
61.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108₽8,608
$71.3฿2,386
51.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.04₽482
$14.01฿469
-56.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₽635
$17.93฿600
-55.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.30₽2,816
$40.82฿1,365
-13.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.17₽412
$5.72฿191
-9.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322₽25.7K
$308฿10.3K
4.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,025₽560.4K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-52.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5₽5,468
$55.8฿1,865
22.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₽3,542
$26.04฿871
70.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₽9,252
$84.8฿2,837
36.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105₽8,378
$71.0฿2,375
47.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442₽35.2K
$423฿14.2K
4.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304₽24.2K
$242฿8,110
25.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776₽61.9K
$797฿26.7K
-2.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$505₽40.3K
$507฿17.0K
-0.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,278₽181.7K
$1,918฿64.2K
18.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,766₽140.9K
$1,464฿49.0K
20.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Velikiye Luki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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 Velikiye Luki: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $442 in Velikiye Luki 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Velikiye Luki versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Velikiye Luki vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Velikiye Luki 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
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 13% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,450 per month in Velikiye Luki 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, Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $966 in Velikiye Luki and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Velikiye Luki or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $966 in Velikiye Luki. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Velikiye Luki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Velikiye Luki vs other spots: cost of living compared