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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $805 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,342 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,880 in Aktau, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Aktau 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$11.12 ₸4,987

-81.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$44.80 ₸20.1K

-56.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.16 ₸4,553

-44.19%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.62 ₸1,174

-30.92%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.78 ₸350

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.50 ₸225

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.31 ₸588

68.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.61 ₸720

135.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.49 ₸669

37.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.45 ₸201

235.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.91 ₸858

-26.70%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.75 ₸785

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.91 ₸4,445

63.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.28 ₸1,921

-32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.81 ₸3,949

6.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.53 ₸684

75.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.35 ₸1,053

-53.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.43 ₸1,090

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.85 ₸1,278

-48.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.62 ₸279

106.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.58 ₸261

82.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.49 ₸667

-51.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.92 ₸415

-42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.74 ₸1,230

54.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$9.28 ₸4,163

97.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.73 ₸329

123.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$0.93 ₸417

211.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.16 ₸69.8

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.10 ₸494

6.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.69 ₸308

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.63 ₸284

130.16%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.3K ₸14.0M

-15.55%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$45.48 ₸20.4K

39.95%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$8.21 ₸3,680

57.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$11.04 ₸4,950

85.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$37.14 ₸16.7K

5.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.11 ₸1,393

111.58%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$147 ₸65.9K

433.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$2,698 ₸1.2M

443.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$67.8 ₸30.4K

-18.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$40.78 ₸18.3K

-39.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$73.3 ₸32.8K

28.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$90.8 ₸40.7K

-18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$329 ₸147.3K

49.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$200 ₸89.6K

44.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$554 ₸248.3K

60.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$386 ₸173.2K

34.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$814 ₸365.1K

142.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$644 ₸288.7K

124.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$569 ₸255.2K

5.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-60.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Aktau: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $329 in Aktau. 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 6% 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 $45.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $202 in Aktau – so Aktau 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 Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,207 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $45.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $805 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Aktau. 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.