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: $2,334 in Akron, OH versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,428 in Akron, OH versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,521 in Akron, OH versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Akron, OH is roughly 169% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Akron, OH is 74% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 $16.24

$1.94 ฿63.6

737.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 $54.4

$18.64 ฿609

191.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$7.82 ฿256

27.49%

Cappuccino

$3.60 $3.60

$1.95 ฿63.9

84.62%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$0.85 ฿27.80

181.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.35 ฿11.60

394.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.13 ฿69.7

138.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.73 ฿122

46.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.71 ฿56.0

-38.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.63 ฿53.3

65.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.01 $7.01

$1.14 ฿37.18

514.91%

Eggs

$4.68 $4.68

$1.93 ฿63.2

142.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$16.21 ฿530

-4.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.89 $11.89

$3.12 ฿102

281.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.24 $19.24

$10.90 ฿356

76.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$2.75 ฿90.1

178.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.21 ฿39.56

33.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.15 $10.15

$1.62 ฿53.0

526.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$1.59 ฿51.9

303.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.40 ฿45.75

52.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.17 ฿38.20

191.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.66 ฿21.62

256.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$0.53 ฿17.24

252.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.13 $9.13

$4.69 ฿153

94.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.78 $14.78

$18.66 ฿610

-20.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.80 ฿58.8

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.23 ฿106

17.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.90 ฿29.28

42.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.02 $49.02

$19.21 ฿628

155.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.41 ฿45.96

248.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.29 ฿42.16

21.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 $29.03

$7.84 ฿256

270.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.27 ฿41.62

-37.01%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

18.55%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

26.56%

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

$280 $280

$69.1 ฿2,258

305.08%

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

$41.34 $41.34

$14.08 ฿460

193.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.3 $82.3

$18.00 ฿588

357.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.13 $43.13

$41.06 ฿1,342

5.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 $17.60

$6.96 ฿227

152.87%

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$5.92 ฿193

104.56%

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

$1,337 $1,337

$299 ฿9,775

346.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-16.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.25 $46.25

$54.7 ฿1,788

-15.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.6 $63.6

$26.77 ฿875

137.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$85.0 ฿2,778

2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$70.6 ฿2,308

76.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 $964

$428 ฿14.0K

125.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 $921

$237 ฿7,759

288.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$801 ฿26.2K

59.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$515 ฿16.9K

208.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,564 $1,564

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-20.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,501 $1,501

$1,475 ฿48.2K

1.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,330 $3,330

$617 ฿20.2K

439.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

27.60%

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

Last update for Akron, OH: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $964 in Akron, OH and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akron, OH pays 439% 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: $54.0 in Akron, OH vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $246 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 169% in total monthly costs ($2,334 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Akron, OH pays 439% more on average, 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: $964 in Akron, OH versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,334 per month in Akron, OH versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 155% less than in Akron, OH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,334 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 169% less than in Akron, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.