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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $642 in Akure, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Akure, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,424 in Akure, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Akure, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Akure are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Akure 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.44 ₦1,961

37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$17.06 ₦23.2K

10.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.25 ₦7,133

47.62%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.21 ₦3,007

-13.12%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.34 ₦458

132.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.22 ₦299

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.80 ₦1,092

176.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.45 ₦1,971

152.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.14 ₦2,911

-22.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.03 ₦1,394

58.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.22 ₦3,014

-46.40%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.77 ₦2,402

12.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.24 ₦8,481

156.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.21 ₦5,729

-28.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.49 ₦7,468

97.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.57 ₦4,860

-22.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.04 ₦2,769

-42.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.03 ₦2,764

-19.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.68 ₦2,281

-9.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.43 ₦1,946

-3.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.87 ₦2,547

-36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.01 ₦2,735

-65.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.38 ₦520

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.30 ₦1,773

252.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$2.18 ₦2,971

659.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.63 ₦854

190.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.86 ₦1,176

272.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.27 ₦368

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.20 ₦1,633

13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.23 ₦3,032

-39.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.66 ₦6,343

68.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.47 ₦639

161.70%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$20.5K ₦27.8M

5.72%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.4K ₦27.7M

10.75%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$21.55 ₦29.3K

227.33%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$9.87 ₦13.4K

38.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$17.54 ₦23.9K

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.30 ₦8,561

-8.41%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$66.3 ₦90.1K

363.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,261 ₦3.1M

546.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$19.02 ₦25.9K

193.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.92 ₦33.9K

5.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$63.5 ₦86.4K

35.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$57.8 ₦78.6K

25.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$388 ₦527.3K

10.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$262 ₦356.8K

-9.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$659 ₦896.6K

23.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$527 ₦717.1K

-3.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$36.69 ₦49.9K

1586.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Akure: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $388 in Akure. 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 1587% 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 $17.00 in Akure. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $180 – making Akure 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 Akure: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $642 in Akure – roughly 35% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $964 in Akure. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Akure, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $17.00 in Akure. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $642 in Akure, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $642 in Akure to $869 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Akure. 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.