Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akbuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akbuk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,098 in Akbuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,767 in Akbuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,437 in Akbuk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Akbuk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Akbuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Akbuk 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$7.51 ₺354

-73.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$46.06 ₺2,171

-60.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$6.86 ₺324

9.04%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.76 ₺130

-26.81%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$1.73 ₺81.6

-50.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.46 ₺21.69

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$3.01 ₺142

-28.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.09 ₺193

-12.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$0.84 ₺39.51

96.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.99 ₺46.83

58.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.49 ₺70.0

-20.13%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$1.72 ₺81.2

12.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.34 ₺393

94.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$5.33 ₺251

-43.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$18.76 ₺884

-41.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$1.10 ₺51.7

146.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$2.05 ₺96.8

-42.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.10 ₺51.7

53.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.15 ₺54.2

39.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.60 ₺28.17

130.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$0.42 ₺19.97

185.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$1.27 ₺59.8

-47.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.35 ₺16.30

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.07 ₺97.7

124.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$12.55 ₺592

40.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$1.70 ₺80.1

9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.07 ₺97.8

59.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.62 ₺29.20

41.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$30.39 ₺1,433

-36.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$1.09 ₺51.3

24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$1.10 ₺51.9

21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.72 ₺364

6.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.20 ₺56.6

1.67%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$41.1K ₺1.9M

-48.09%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$42.2K ₺2.0M

-46.57%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$48.83 ₺2,301

44.73%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$7.68 ₺362

82.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$15.22 ₺717

14.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$42.52 ₺2,004

-0.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.46 ₺304

-8.36%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$622 ₺29.3K

-50.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$9,022 ₺425.3K

64.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$75.5 ₺3,557

-26.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$44.85 ₺2,114

-41.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$163 ₺7,680

-49.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$112 ₺5,264

-36.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$509 ₺24.0K

-15.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$389 ₺18.3K

-38.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$886 ₺41.8K

-7.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$721 ₺34.0K

-28.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$1,237 ₺58.3K

54.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$810 ₺38.2K

81.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

42.08

-88.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Akbuk: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $509 in Akbuk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $46.00 in Akbuk. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $217 in Akbuk – so Akbuk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Akbuk is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,647 in Akbuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Akbuk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $46.00 in Akbuk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Akbuk at $1,098. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akbuk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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