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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $359 in Akola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $553 in Akola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $747 in Akola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 159% more than Akola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Akola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Akola 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$0.91 ₹87.5

128.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$6.25 ₹600

213.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.11 ₹298

82.32%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.36 ₹131

33.09%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.41 ₹39.12

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.14 ₹13.84

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.67 ₹160

32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.69 ₹258

40.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.68 ₹65.1

201.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.44 ₹42.29

243.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.50 ₹48.10

180.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.73 ₹70.4

209.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.91 ₹471

229.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.15 ₹206

34.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.83 ₹176

46.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.59 ₹57.0

84.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.95 ₹91.5

70.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.47 ₹45.13

210.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.32 ₹30.52

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.29 ₹28.30

265.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.52 ₹49.60

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.30 ₹29.14

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.15 ₹206

96.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.05 ₹389

351.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.86 ₹178

-12.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.18 ₹305

-8.81%

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

$2.03 ₹195

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.25 ₹23.75

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$7.29 ₹700

637.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.54 ₹51.8

116.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.32 ₹31.08

81.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.05 ₹101

127.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.09 ₹105

33.03%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$15.4K ₹1.5M

36.00%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$17.6K ₹1.7M

50.51%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$35.89 ₹3,443

77.35%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$4.03 ₹386

219.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$8.25 ₹791

148.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$13.93 ₹1,337

180.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.55 ₹629

-40.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$2.15 ₹206

206.05%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$38.66 ₹3,709

1927.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,781 ₹170.9K

723.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$23.56 ₹2,260

133.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$37.63 ₹3,610

-34.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$53.5 ₹5,134

75.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$35.67 ₹3,422

107.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$122 ₹11.7K

300.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$72.8 ₹6,989

295.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$268 ₹25.7K

232.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$172 ₹16.5K

203.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$978 ₹93.8K

101.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$506 ₹48.6K

185.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$307 ₹29.5K

95.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.7

-42.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Akola: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $122 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 96% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Akola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $92.0 – 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 159%, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $539 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $359 in Akola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 638% less in Akola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Akola, where all-in costs run around $359, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Akola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.