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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $367 in Akola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $558 in Akola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $750 in Akola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 136% more than Akola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Akola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Akola 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$0.93 ₹88.7

108.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.34 ₹699

153.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.96 ₹281

164.19%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.49 ₹142

30.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.46 ₹43.50

84.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.15 ₹14.42

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.79 ₹171

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.98 ₹283

25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.78 ₹73.9

119.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.47 ₹44.69

246.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.61 ₹57.8

86.89%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.80 ₹76.6

141.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.69 ₹542

184.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.37 ₹226

31.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.99 ₹189

38.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.61 ₹57.8

98.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.99 ₹94.5

63.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.64 ₹60.9

148.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.39 ₹37.60

258.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.33 ₹31.76

254.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.51 ₹48.29

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.30 ₹28.97

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.38 ₹226

97.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.26 ₹405

338.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.18 ₹207

-17.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.97 ₹378

-18.64%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$2.39 ₹228

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.22 ₹20.95

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.78 ₹646

183.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.61 ₹57.8

131.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.22 ₹20.91

486.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.48 ₹141

429.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.19 ₹114

6.72%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$11.4K ₹1.1M

86.49%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$16.8K ₹1.6M

32.03%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$32.47 ₹3,093

112.72%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.70 ₹352

280.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.74 ₹833

105.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$17.21 ₹1,639

138.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$3.55 ₹338

96.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.39 ₹323

74.63%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$52.3 ₹4,980

471.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,574 ₹149.9K

850.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$21.05 ₹2,005

159.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$26.68 ₹2,541

0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$55.8 ₹5,316

52.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$35.54 ₹3,385

98.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$114 ₹10.9K

274.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$70.7 ₹6,739

235.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$230 ₹21.9K

248.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$137 ₹13.0K

276.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,399 ₹323.8K

-41.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,661 ₹158.2K

-11.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$318 ₹30.3K

93.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.21

-45.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Akola: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Akola. 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 94% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Akola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $103 – making Akola the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Akola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 136%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $550 in Akola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $367 in Akola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 183% less in Akola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $367 in Akola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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