Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Akbuk and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,136 in Akbuk, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

55

Cost of Living Index in Akbuk
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Akbuk Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Akbuk

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,136

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,136 per month in Akbuk vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Akbuk $1,136
Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $1,819 per month in Akbuk vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Akbuk $1,819
Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $2,501 per month in Akbuk vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Akbuk $2,501
Chiang Mai $1,999

Akbuk costs about 21% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Akbuk and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Akbuk 16% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.69 ₺485

$2.13 ฿71.8

354.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ₺2,868

$18.62 ฿626

207.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.64 ₺432

$5.60 ฿188

54.29%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₺174

$1.66 ฿55.9

109.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₺109

$0.65 ฿21.75

233.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₺17.64

$0.30 ฿10.25

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 ₺195

$2.32 ฿78.1

68.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₺306

$3.67 ฿123

66.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₺52.6

$2.02 ฿67.8

-48.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₺48.00

$1.41 ฿47.34

-31.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₺117

$1.39 ฿46.79

67.63%

Eggs

$2.24 ₺112

$2.37 ฿79.6

-5.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 ₺700

$16.52 ฿555

-15.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 ₺303

$2.67 ฿89.8

126.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.26 ₺1,213

$9.02 ฿303

168.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 ₺78.8

$2.40 ฿80.6

-34.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 ₺113

$1.04 ฿35.01

117.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 ₺71.1

$1.66 ฿55.8

-14.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 ₺67.8

$1.56 ฿52.4

-12.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ₺39.11

$1.24 ฿41.61

-37.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 ₺38.69

$1.09 ฿36.53

-29.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₺49.07

$0.76 ฿25.61

28.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₺35.14

$0.51 ฿17.29

37.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₺142

$4.12 ฿139

-31.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.21 ₺611

$17.93 ฿603

-31.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₺109

$1.62 ฿54.6

33.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₺154

$2.82 ฿94.9

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ₺35.57

$0.93 ฿31.42

-23.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.22 ₺1,211

$52.9 ฿1,778

-54.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₺43.85

$1.18 ฿39.56

-25.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₺33.64

$0.17 ฿5.76

294.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.98 ₺399

$1.81 ฿60.9

340.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₺54.9

$1.47 ฿49.51

-25.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.6K ₺2.2M

$21.0K ฿706.4K

107.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.2K ₺2.1M

$26.5K ฿891.4K

55.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.4 ₺3,821

$62.6 ฿2,103

22.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.53 ₺527

$11.60 ฿390

-9.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.58 ₺1,179

$20.30 ฿683

16.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ₺2,669

$37.88 ฿1,274

40.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.86 ₺1,193

$3.70 ฿124

544.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.12 ₺356

$6.51 ฿219

9.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$714 ₺35.7K

$727 ฿24.4K

-1.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₺633.7K

$16.6K ฿557.2K

-23.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.2 ₺3,659

$53.5 ฿1,800

36.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₺1,782

$24.80 ฿834

43.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₺4,331

$90.4 ฿3,039

-4.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₺5,805

$72.0 ฿2,420

61.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₺21.2K

$481 ฿16.2K

-11.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ₺16.2K

$310 ฿10.4K

4.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₺37.8K

$1,058 ฿35.6K

-28.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 ₺27.5K

$659 ฿22.1K

-16.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,298 ₺64.9K

$2,418 ฿81.3K

-46.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,020 ₺51.0K

$1,609 ฿54.1K

-36.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$716 ₺35.8K

$595 ฿20.0K

20.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

38.25

5.57

586.71%

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

Last update for Akbuk: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Akbuk

$325 28.6%

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1% 4.5% $15

Groceries & Markets

Akbuk

$275 24.2%

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3% 14% $38

Eating Out

Akbuk

$187 16.5%

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2% 59% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Akbuk

$140 12.3%

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6% 22.7% $32

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Akbuk

$111 9.7%

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1% 14.5% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Akbuk

$68 6%

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4% 24.7% $17

Getting Around

Akbuk

$31 2.8%

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3% 87.4% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Akbuk versus $481 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.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Akbuk, 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 $57 in Akbuk versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Akbuk

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

22:40 10:40 PM

02:40 2:40 AM

4 h ahead of Akbuk

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2 USD

100 TRY = 1.78 EUR

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 50.02 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.31 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Akbuk Chiang Mai 6,580 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Akbuk
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

Akbuk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Akbuk is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,704 per month in Akbuk and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Akbuk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $424 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Akbuk, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Akbuk and $19 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,136 in Akbuk and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,136 in Akbuk. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Akbuk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.