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: $1,245 in Ajka versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,847 in Ajka versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,449 in Ajka versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ajka is roughly 31% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ajka 10% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20 Ft 3,194
$2.10 ฿69.3
385.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.18 Ft 7,261
$19.84 ฿656
16.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 Ft 2,603
$5.79 ฿191
43.52%
Cappuccino
$1.14 Ft 356
$1.83 ฿60.4
-37.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 Ft 369
$0.78 ฿25.61
51.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Ft 176
$0.31 ฿10.37
80.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 Ft 407
$2.34 ฿77.2
-44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 Ft 358
$3.70 ฿122
-69.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 Ft 401
$2.03 ฿67.1
-36.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 Ft 468
$1.60 ฿52.7
-6.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 Ft 820
$1.42 ฿46.75
84.51%
Eggs
$3.97 Ft 1,245
$2.18 ฿71.9
82.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 Ft 3,175
$15.91 ฿526
-36.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 Ft 2,140
$3.07 ฿102
122.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.31 Ft 5,110
$9.87 ฿326
65.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 Ft 729
$2.63 ฿86.8
-11.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 Ft 724
$1.10 ฿36.19
110.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 640
$1.63 ฿53.8
25.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 Ft 1,083
$1.53 ฿50.6
126.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 Ft 330
$1.24 ฿41.13
-15.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 Ft 355
$1.13 ฿37.37
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 495
$0.74 ฿24.38
113.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Ft 170
$0.50 ฿16.48
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.93 Ft 2,484
$4.28 ฿141
85.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 Ft 1,581
$17.97 ฿594
-71.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 Ft 422
$1.70 ฿56.1
-20.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 Ft 658
$2.90 ฿95.7
-27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 Ft 388
$0.94 ฿31.13
31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.95 Ft 8,755
$55.3 ฿1,827
-49.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 Ft 1,003
$1.23 ฿40.76
160.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 Ft 555
$0.53 ฿17.66
233.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.87 Ft 5,913
$2.40 ฿79.3
686.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 Ft 609
$1.44 ฿47.55
35.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K Ft 9.1M
$21.2K ฿700.2K
37.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K Ft 12.1M
$27.3K ฿902.1K
41.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 Ft 41.7K
$64.9 ฿2,145
104.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73 Ft 7,119
$13.35 ฿441
70.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.07 Ft 6,601
$20.83 ฿688
1.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.43 Ft 15.2K
$40.42 ฿1,336
19.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Ft 5,866
$3.95 ฿131
374.18%
Cinema Ticket
$8.79 Ft 2,752
$6.71 ฿222
31.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 Ft 79.7K
$787 ฿26.0K
-67.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,035 Ft 2.2M
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-53.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 Ft 33.5K
$56.2 ฿1,858
90.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.59 Ft 10.5K
$24.95 ฿824
34.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 Ft 29.5K
$92.7 ฿3,063
1.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 Ft 40.6K
$75.1 ฿2,482
72.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$547 Ft 171.4K
$484 ฿16.0K
13.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$422 Ft 132.1K
$287 ฿9,491
46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$757 Ft 237.0K
$910 ฿30.1K
-16.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$656 Ft 205.6K
$531 ฿17.5K
23.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,059 Ft 958.2K
$1,980 ฿65.4K
54.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,671 Ft 836.8K
$1,451 ฿47.9K
84.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$605 ฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.57
19.75%

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

Last update for Ajka: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Ajka and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Ajka vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 31% in total monthly costs ($1,245 vs $950 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 $1,867 in Ajka and $1,426 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: $547 in Ajka versus $484 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 98% 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 $254 in Ajka versus $787 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 $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,245 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 31% less than in Ajka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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