Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Akola and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Akola: $364 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Akola, India
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Akola
🇮🇳 India
$364
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $364 per month in Akola vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Akola $364
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $572 per month in Akola vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Akola $572
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $780 per month in Akola vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Akola $780
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Akola is about 61% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Akola and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Akola 73% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.94 ₹89.4
$2.24 ฿75.6
-58.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.37 ₹605
$19.00 ฿641
-66.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.08 ₹292
$5.55 ฿187
-44.50%
Cappuccino
$1.38 ₹131
$1.67 ฿56.5
-17.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.35
$0.64 ฿21.53
-42.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 ₹11.87
$0.31 ฿10.30
-58.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 ₹185
$2.36 ฿79.5
-17.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₹259
$3.66 ฿124
-25.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹59.7
$1.95 ฿65.7
-67.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 ₹42.76
$1.44 ฿48.45
-68.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.54 ₹51.7
$1.33 ฿45.01
-59.40%
Eggs
$0.73 ₹68.9
$2.28 ฿77.0
-67.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.00 ₹474
$16.45 ฿555
-69.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.15 ₹204
$2.78 ฿93.8
-22.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.31 ฿314
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 ₹167
$2.35 ฿79.4
-25.53%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 ₹52.9
$0.97 ฿32.78
-42.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 ₹89.1
$1.60 ฿53.9
-41.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 ₹45.08
$1.50 ฿50.6
-68.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 ₹33.81
$1.28 ฿43.10
-71.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 ₹31.85
$1.10 ฿37.17
-69.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₹52.5
$0.71 ฿23.81
-22.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₹26.42
$0.49 ฿16.36
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 ₹198
$4.14 ฿140
-49.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.08 ₹387
$17.52 ฿591
-76.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₹178
$1.61 ฿54.5
16.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ₹299
$2.78 ฿93.9
13.67%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$2.06 ₹195
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₹23.66
$0.87 ฿29.29
-71.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.05 ₹669
$54.1 ฿1,825
-86.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 ₹52.3
$1.16 ฿39.03
-52.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.59
$0.53 ฿17.79
-37.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₹97.4
$2.42 ฿81.7
-57.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₹108
$1.45 ฿48.87
-21.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K ₹1.1M
$21.1K ฿710.3K
-46.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ₹1.6M
$26.9K ฿908.7K
-36.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.16 ₹3,432
$62.2 ฿2,097
-41.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.08 ₹388
$12.17 ฿410
-66.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.34 ₹791
$20.12 ฿679
-58.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.13 ₹1,340
$37.31 ฿1,259
-62.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.42 ₹609
$3.77 ฿127
70.29%
Cinema Ticket
$2.12 ₹201
$6.49 ฿219
-67.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.45 ₹3,744
$736 ฿24.8K
-94.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,785 ₹169.4K
$14.8K ฿498.0K
-87.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.67 ₹2,247
$53.4 ฿1,800
-55.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.15 ₹3,525
$24.64 ฿831
50.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.5 ₹5,170
$91.5 ฿3,086
-40.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.53 ₹3,372
$71.9 ฿2,426
-50.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$122 ₹11.6K
$482 ฿16.3K
-74.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.2 ₹7,330
$309 ฿10.4K
-75.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 ₹25.3K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-73.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 ₹17.9K
$633 ฿21.4K
-70.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$932 ₹88.4K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-60.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$526 ₹49.9K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-66.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akola
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$316 ₹30.0K
$590 ฿19.9K
-46.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.7
5.57
74.15%

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

Last update for Akola: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Akola
$91
Chiang Mai
$234 158% $143
Accommodation & Living
Akola
$77
Chiang Mai
$309 300% $232
Clothing & Footwear
Akola
$68
Chiang Mai
$109 60% $41
Eating Out
Akola
$50
Chiang Mai
$78 53.7% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akola
$49
Chiang Mai
$94 94.4% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Akola
$18
Chiang Mai
$50 174% $32
Getting Around
Akola
$10
Chiang Mai
$61 498% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $122 in Akola versus $482 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 87% 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 $6 in Akola versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91 vs $234 – making Akola the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Akola
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
23:05 11:05 PM
00:35 12:35 AM
1 h 30 min ahead of Akola
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
425,800
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.9 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Akola Chiang Mai 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Akola
  • 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
Akola vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Akola cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 157%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $546 per month in Akola and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Akola, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
What are total monthly expenses in Akola and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $364 in Akola and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Akola about 61% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 87% less in Akola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is Akola or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Akola – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Akola. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Akola vs other spots: cost of living compared

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