Cost of Living Comparison Between Akron, OH and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Akron, OH and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,252 in Akron, OH versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,360 in Akron, OH versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,468 in Akron, OH versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Akron, OH is roughly 138% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Akron, OH is 64% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.95 $16.95

$2.08 ฿69.2

714.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$19.64 ฿651

287.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$5.65 ฿188

80.18%

Cappuccino

$3.67 $3.67

$1.81 ฿59.9

102.76%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$0.71 ฿23.66

191.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.32 ฿10.48

415.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.24 ฿74.2

128.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.63 ฿121

35.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.96 ฿65.0

-54.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.50 ฿49.83

58.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$1.34 ฿44.32

447.76%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$2.26 ฿75.1

111.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$16.26 ฿539

-4.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$2.95 ฿98.0

292.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$9.94 ฿330

93.66%

Apples (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$2.57 ฿85.3

173.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.06 ฿35.04

45.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$1.61 ฿53.5

368.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$1.52 ฿50.4

350.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.27 ฿42.14

211.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.07 ฿35.37

256.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.72 ฿23.89

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.51 ฿16.87

301.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.80 $9.80

$4.19 ฿139

133.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 $14.30

$17.87 ฿593

-19.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.69 ฿56.2

4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 $5.23

$2.84 ฿94.1

84.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.93 ฿30.70

37.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.76 $49.76

$53.9 ฿1,787

-7.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 $5.03

$1.23 ฿40.95

308.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.58 ฿19.13

210.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.41 ฿46.84

-33.33%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$21.4K ฿711.3K

70.44%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

0.33%

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

$247 $247

$63.7 ฿2,112

287.67%

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

$40.91 $40.91

$12.85 ฿426

218.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$20.22 ฿671

288.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.04 $44.04

$38.74 ฿1,285

13.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 $17.19

$3.97 ฿132

333.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.59 $12.59

$6.74 ฿223

86.80%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$778 ฿25.8K

66.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$14.6K ฿484.6K

-14.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 $54.5

$54.3 ฿1,801

0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 $64.9

$25.45 ฿844

155.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$94.3 ฿3,129

10.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$73.4 ฿2,436

71.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 $944

$490 ฿16.2K

92.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$860 $860

$289 ฿9,596

197.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$894 ฿29.6K

53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,470 $1,470

$517 ฿17.1K

184.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,538 $1,538

$1,955 ฿64.9K

-21.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,489 $1,489

$1,477 ฿49.0K

0.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,265 $3,265

$602 ฿20.0K

442.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

5.57

8.62%

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

Last update for Akron, OH: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Akron, OH and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akron, OH pays 442% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Akron, OH vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $240 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

Akron, OH vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Akron, OH and Chiang Mai differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($2,252 vs $947 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 442% higher in Akron, OH, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Akron, OH versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,252 per month in Akron, OH versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 8% less than in Akron, OH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $2,252 in Akron, OH, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Akron, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Akron, OH 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Akron, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.