🙂A single person spends $894 per month in Yoshkar-Ola vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Yoshkar-Ola vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Yoshkar-Ola vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Yoshkar-Ola is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Yoshkar-Ola and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yoshkar-Ola35% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73₽482
$2.10฿69.3
172.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0₽4,373
$19.84฿656
162.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67₽392
$5.79฿191
-19.34%
Cappuccino
$1.67₽140
$1.83฿60.4
-8.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73₽61.2
$0.78฿25.61
-6.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28₽23.56
$0.31฿10.37
-9.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.79₽66.1
$2.34฿77.2
-66.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66₽139
$3.70฿122
-55.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₽62.1
$2.03฿67.1
-63.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76₽63.9
$1.60฿52.7
-52.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37₽115
$1.42฿46.75
-3.52%
Eggs
$1.43₽120
$2.18฿71.9
-34.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.10₽933
$15.91฿526
-30.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72₽397
$3.07฿102
53.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93₽1,086
$9.87฿326
31.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58₽133
$2.63฿86.8
-39.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₽136
$1.10฿36.19
46.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78₽150
$1.63฿53.8
9.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20₽269
$1.53฿50.6
109.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60₽50.4
$1.24฿41.13
-51.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58₽48.82
$1.13฿37.37
-48.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21₽102
$0.74฿24.38
63.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65₽54.5
$0.50฿16.48
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87₽241
$4.28฿141
-32.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.23₽692
$17.97฿594
-54.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05₽88.6
$1.70฿56.1
-38.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₽193
$2.90฿95.7
-20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46₽38.44
$0.94฿31.13
-51.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38₽116
$1.23฿40.76
12.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39₽32.80
$0.53฿17.66
-26.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.84₽575
$2.40฿79.3
185.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77₽65.0
$1.44฿47.55
-46.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8K₽3.4M
$21.2K฿700.2K
92.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K₽2.7M
$27.3K฿902.1K
18.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.6₽7,443
$64.9฿2,145
36.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.75₽484
$13.35฿441
-56.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.38₽620
$20.83฿688
-64.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.42₽2,724
$40.42฿1,336
-19.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.27₽1,788
$3.95฿131
438.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74₽567
$6.71฿222
0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302₽25.4K
$787฿26.0K
-61.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,758₽568.0K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-55.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9₽5,705
$56.2฿1,858
20.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1₽4,463
$24.95฿824
112.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138₽11.6K
$92.7฿3,063
48.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9₽6,635
$75.1฿2,482
5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$446₽37.5K
$484฿16.0K
-7.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312₽26.2K
$287฿9,491
8.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797₽67.0K
$910฿30.1K
-12.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$532₽44.7K
$531฿17.5K
0.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974₽165.9K
$1,980฿65.4K
-0.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,336₽112.3K
$1,451฿47.9K
-7.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yoshkar-Ola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.38
5.57
265.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yoshkar-Ola: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $484 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 $52.0 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Yoshkar-Ola vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Yoshkar-Ola 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
Yoshkar-Ola vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yoshkar-Ola or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Yoshkar-Ola, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Yoshkar-Ola and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,340 per month in Yoshkar-Ola and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Yoshkar-Ola or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yoshkar-Ola, 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 Yoshkar-Ola and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Yoshkar-Ola 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 Yoshkar-Ola or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 Yoshkar-Ola or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yoshkar-Ola, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Yoshkar-Ola 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, Yoshkar-Ola or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yoshkar-Ola costs $894 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Yoshkar-Ola 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 Yoshkar-Ola or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Yoshkar-Ola. 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.
Yoshkar-Ola vs other spots: cost of living compared