Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajka and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajka and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,080 in Ajka versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,624 in Ajka versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,168 in Ajka versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ajka is roughly 25% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ajka 19% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.66 Ft 2,433
$1.96 ฿65.9
290.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.99 Ft 7,306
$18.35 ฿617
25.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Ft 1,842
$7.48 ฿252
-22.46%
Cappuccino
$1.18 Ft 376
$2.02 ฿67.8
-41.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 Ft 360
$0.85 ฿28.52
32.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 Ft 192
$0.36 ฿11.97
69.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.25 Ft 396
$2.14 ฿71.9
-41.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 Ft 376
$3.59 ฿121
-67.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 Ft 351
$1.65 ฿55.5
-32.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 Ft 538
$1.57 ฿52.7
7.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 Ft 805
$1.19 ฿40.05
112.61%
Eggs
$3.16 Ft 1,003
$1.94 ฿65.1
62.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.96 Ft 2,528
$16.19 ฿545
-50.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.78 Ft 1,838
$2.99 ฿101
93.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.95 Ft 5,703
$10.94 ฿368
64.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 Ft 588
$2.71 ฿91.2
-31.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 585
$1.17 ฿39.27
57.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 Ft 631
$1.69 ฿56.8
17.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 Ft 891
$1.60 ฿54.0
75.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 Ft 335
$1.38 ฿46.56
-23.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 Ft 365
$1.20 ฿40.47
-4.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 Ft 459
$0.67 ฿22.51
116.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Ft 152
$0.56 ฿18.74
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54 Ft 2,396
$4.64 ฿156
62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.20 Ft 1,651
$17.62 ฿593
-70.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 Ft 297
$1.86 ฿62.6
-49.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 Ft 457
$3.30 ฿111
-56.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 Ft 369
$0.88 ฿29.70
31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.56 Ft 7,805
$19.34 ฿651
26.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 Ft 871
$1.36 ฿45.92
101.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 Ft 422
$1.34 ฿45.00
-0.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.18 Ft 5,460
$8.21 ฿276
109.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 Ft 532
$1.22 ฿41.20
36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K Ft 8.4M
$21.4K ฿718.5K
23.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K Ft 8.0M
$22.5K ฿758.1K
11.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 Ft 33.6K
$70.7 ฿2,378
49.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 Ft 8,090
$14.04 ฿472
81.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.55 Ft 5,896
$17.49 ฿589
6.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.29 Ft 15.0K
$42.15 ฿1,418
12.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 Ft 5,250
$6.88 ฿231
140.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.51 Ft 2,705
$5.92 ฿199
43.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 Ft 71.4K
$309 ฿10.4K
-27.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,430 Ft 2.0M
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-56.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 Ft 34.4K
$55.8 ฿1,876
94.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.88 Ft 9,495
$26.11 ฿879
14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 Ft 27.2K
$83.0 ฿2,793
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 Ft 34.6K
$70.5 ฿2,371
54.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 Ft 138.9K
$432 ฿14.5K
1.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 Ft 111.3K
$239 ฿8,040
46.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$634 Ft 201.6K
$822 ฿27.7K
-22.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 Ft 168.6K
$512 ฿17.2K
3.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 Ft 982.7K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
61.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,434 Ft 773.5K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
65.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$579 ฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.85
5
17.00%

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

Last update for Ajka: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Ajka and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Ajka vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $243, with Ajka cheaper for home cooking.

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
Ajka vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ajka and in Chiang Mai?
Ajka and Chiang Mai differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,080 vs $861 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ajka compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $1,619 in Ajka and $1,292 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ajka and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Ajka versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ajka and in Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 27% less than in Ajka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ajka and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $225 in Ajka versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,080 in Ajka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ajka. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ajka and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ajka or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ajka and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ajka or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Ajka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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