😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $923 in Aksaray, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,450 in Aksaray, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,978 in Aksaray, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Aksaray, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Aksaray are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Aksaray32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.3
$6.22₺303
-66.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿653
$24.69₺1,204
-20.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$7.12₺347
-20.37%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.1
$2.91₺142
-37.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.58
$1.15₺55.9
-33.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.49
$0.34₺16.64
2.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.7
$2.31₺112
-4.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$3.69₺180
2.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.2
$0.98₺47.75
109.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.4
$0.85₺41.66
77.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.57
$1.89₺92.0
-25.93%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.2
$1.75₺85.3
29.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿539
$5.99₺292
170.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.4
$3.21₺156
-9.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$21.40₺1,043
-55.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.2
$2.20₺107
21.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.28
$1.85₺90.1
-41.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
$1.20₺58.6
35.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.61
$1.13₺55.1
29.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.54
$0.40₺19.52
220.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.21
$0.37₺18.19
186.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.88
$0.81₺39.67
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.51
$0.20₺9.74
165.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$2.03₺99.0
108.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿609
$15.07₺735
21.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.3
$2.01₺97.9
-18.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.6
$2.41₺118
20.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.24
$0.71₺34.45
23.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,790
$33.80₺1,648
59.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.04
$0.86₺41.80
36.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.25
$0.79₺38.68
-26.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.4
$4.70₺229
-49.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.28
$1.24₺60.5
16.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿699.5K
$41.5K₺2.0M
-49.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿879.7K
$38.8K₺1.9M
-31.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,119
$58.0₺2,828
9.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿429
$7.49₺365
72.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿683
$14.30₺697
43.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,299
$52.8₺2,572
-26.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$3.11₺151
111.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$319₺15.5K
145.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿488.4K
$12.9K₺627.2K
14.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,835
$32.34₺1,577
70.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿824
$23.63₺1,152
4.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,133
$83.8₺4,086
12.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,462
$79.3₺3,865
-6.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
$418₺20.4K
17.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,594
$302₺14.7K
-4.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.7K
$757₺36.9K
17.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.3K
$566₺27.6K
-7.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.7K
$1,487₺72.5K
32.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.1K
$866₺42.2K
66.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aksaray
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
$819₺40.0K
-26.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
47
-88.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Aksaray: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $418 in Aksaray. 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 36% higher in Aksaray, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Aksaray. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Aksaray – so Aksaray 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 Aksaray: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Aksaray compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $923 in Aksaray – roughly 1% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Aksaray?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,385 in Aksaray. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Aksaray?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aksaray, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Aksaray. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Aksaray?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $923 in Aksaray. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aksaray, where all-in costs run around $923, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Aksaray it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Aksaray?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $923 in Aksaray to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Aksaray safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Aksaray?
If budget matters most, go with Aksaray. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared