Moving to Thailand from Russia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Russia to Thailand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Russia to Thailand, you would find that Thailand is 18.0% more expensive than Russia overall. A RUB5,776,862 salary in Russia would need to be roughly THB2,471,755 in Thailand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Thai. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bangkok averages 91°F vs 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Russia and Thailand.
What does your salary buy?
RUB5,776,862 → THB2,471,755
To maintain the same standard of living in Thailand
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 26.5% less
Groceries
pay 39.4% more
Transportation
pay 54.6% more
Housing
pay 25.5% more
Childcare
pay 31.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Thailand cost about 22% less than cities in Russia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Thailand compared to Russia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Russia generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand performs significantly better than Russia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Russia performs better than Thailand across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Thailand leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Russia generally does better on family life, though Thailand leads in life expectancy.
Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Moscow | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Moscow | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) |
| Feb | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) |
| Mar | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) |
| May | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) |
| Jun | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) |
| Jul | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) |
| Sep | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) |
| Oct | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) |
| Nov | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) |
| Dec | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) |
Data:
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring,
Thai Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia and Thailand. To live, work, or study long-term in Thailand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Thailand's immigration authority.
Russia passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa Free
Thailand passport holder visiting Russia
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Thailand than Russia?
Thailand and Russia are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Thailand?
Budget about THB617,939 for 3 months in Thailand (based on a RUB5,776,862 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Thailand?
Connectivity is usually fine (Thailand: 17.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Thailand offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Thailand safe for expats?
Russia generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Thailand is 4.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia. About 67% of people in Thailand feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Thailand compared to Russia?
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 9.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Thailand, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Thailand scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).
What's the weather like in Thailand compared to Russia?
The average high temperature in Bangkok is 91°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Bangkok receives around 59.0 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.
What language do they speak in Thailand?
The official language in Thailand is Thai. In Russia, the official language is Russian.
