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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $652 in Akure, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,050 in Akure, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,448 in Akure, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Akure, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Akure are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Akure 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$1.48 ₦2,027

32.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$17.37 ₦23.7K

8.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$5.20 ₦7,106

52.31%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$2.21 ₦3,012

-13.57%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.36 ₦494

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.20 ₦273

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$0.85 ₦1,160

160.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.38 ₦1,886

175.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$2.13 ₦2,916

-23.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.98 ₦1,342

65.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$2.23 ₦3,050

-47.09%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$1.74 ₦2,380

15.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$6.31 ₦8,624

151.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$4.17 ₦5,689

-27.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$5.43 ₦7,414

98.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$3.47 ₦4,734

-24.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$2.09 ₦2,853

-41.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$2.03 ₦2,768

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.69 ₦2,313

-6.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.43 ₦1,955

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.81 ₦2,472

-35.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.92 ₦2,626

-65.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.38 ₦523

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$1.25 ₦1,711

262.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$2.16 ₦2,955

742.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$0.64 ₦867

185.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$0.90 ₦1,229

258.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.25 ₦340

256.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$1.20 ₦1,638

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$2.19 ₦2,991

-38.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$4.76 ₦6,496

73.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$0.45 ₦613

182.22%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$20.0K ₦27.3M

5.80%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$20.7K ₦28.2M

8.85%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$21.18 ₦28.9K

231.21%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$10.01 ₦13.7K

37.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$17.47 ₦23.9K

0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$6.16 ₦8,411

-6.17%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$65.8 ₦89.8K

365.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$2,274 ₦3.1M

551.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$19.15 ₦26.1K

183.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$24.40 ₦33.3K

7.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$64.9 ₦88.6K

30.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$57.0 ₦77.9K

21.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$402 ₦549.3K

5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$258 ₦352.5K

-7.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$647 ₦883.1K

27.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$528 ₦720.9K

-2.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$36.40 ₦49.7K

1645.03%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Akure: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $402 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 1645% 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: $243 vs $179 – 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: $852 in Chiang Mai, $652 in Akure – roughly 31% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $978 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 36% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $652 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 $652 in Akure to $852 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.