Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zugdidi and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Zugdidi: $701 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Zugdidi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$701
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zugdidi 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 Zugdidi and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $701 per month in Zugdidi vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Zugdidi $701
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,134 per month in Zugdidi vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Zugdidi $1,134
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,567 per month in Zugdidi vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Zugdidi $1,567
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Zugdidi is about 24% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Zugdidi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zugdidi 48% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.18 ₾28.93
$2.29 ฿76.5
388.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.24 ₾80.9
$19.64 ฿656
59.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.92 ₾15.32
$5.61 ฿188
5.53%
Cappuccino
$3.48 ₾9.01
$1.66 ฿55.6
109.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₾1.41
$0.70 ฿23.40
-22.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ₾0.67
$0.31 ฿10.24
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 ₾6.96
$2.41 ฿80.4
11.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ₾8.15
$3.71 ฿124
-15.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ₾5.56
$1.95 ฿65.3
10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$1.41 ฿47.03
-43.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.69
$1.31 ฿43.62
38.17%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.13
$2.18 ฿72.9
26.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 ₾24.10
$16.65 ฿556
-44.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 ₾16.53
$2.76 ฿92.2
131.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.12 ₾33.95
$9.11 ฿304
44.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 ₾4.17
$2.39 ฿80.0
-32.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 ₾4.82
$1.03 ฿34.26
80.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.00
$1.63 ฿54.4
18.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 ₾6.19
$1.50 ฿50.0
59.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 ₾2.28
$1.29 ฿43.13
-31.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$1.11 ฿37.03
-37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.72 ฿24.08
97.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₾1.23
$0.53 ฿17.59
-11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.82
$4.31 ฿144
-20.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 ₾20.32
$17.95 ฿600
-56.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₾4.42
$1.58 ฿52.9
8.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₾5.95
$2.84 ฿95.0
-19.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₾0.46
$0.86 ฿28.86
-79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$1.21 ฿40.29
-5.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.57 ฿18.99
29.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.84 ₾30.65
$2.35 ฿78.6
403.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 ₾2.37
$1.44 ฿47.96
-36.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.5K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
-11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K ₾55.9K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-19.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.5 ₾232
$62.3 ฿2,083
43.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.90 ₾33.40
$12.11 ฿405
6.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.38 ₾50.2
$19.94 ฿666
-2.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.73 ₾64.0
$37.07 ฿1,239
-33.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₾12.23
$6.50 ฿217
-27.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾968
$793 ฿26.5K
-52.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-27.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.62 ₾61.1
$53.7 ฿1,796
-56.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47 ₾102
$24.62 ฿823
60.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$90.9 ฿3,036
29.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 ₾326
$71.1 ฿2,378
76.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$455 ฿15.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$298 ฿9,954
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$908 ฿30.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$554 ฿18.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zugdidi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$268 ₾694
$591 ฿19.7K
-54.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
5.57
126.57%

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

Last update for Zugdidi: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Zugdidi
$230
Chiang Mai
$235 2.4% $5.5
Eating Out
Zugdidi
$172
Chiang Mai
$79 54.3% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Zugdidi
$138
Chiang Mai
$108 21.6% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zugdidi
$122
Chiang Mai
$94 22.5% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Zugdidi
$34
Chiang Mai
$50 46.5% $16
Getting Around
Zugdidi
$5.6 *
Chiang Mai
$61 995% $55
Accommodation & Living
Zugdidi
- *
Chiang Mai
$298

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 120% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $31.00 in Zugdidi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Zugdidi vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Zugdidi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Zugdidi
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:38 3:38 PM
18:38 6:38 PM
3 h ahead of Zugdidi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
41,332
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zugdidi Chiang Mai 5,940 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Zugdidi
  • Chiang Mai

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Zugdidi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zugdidi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Zugdidi, 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 Zugdidi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Zugdidi and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Zugdidi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Zugdidi 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 Zugdidi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% 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 $1,000/month in Zugdidi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zugdidi, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Zugdidi 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, Zugdidi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zugdidi costs $701 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Zugdidi 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 Zugdidi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Zugdidi. 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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