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 $647 in Akure, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Akure, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,420 in Akure, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% 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

$2.04 ฿68.4

$1.45 ₦1,980

40.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$17.32 ₦23.6K

8.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$5.48 ₦7,471

43.43%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.21 ₦3,010

-8.14%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.36 ₦493

122.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.22 ₦300

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$0.78 ₦1,064

174.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$1.44 ₦1,963

154.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$2.13 ₦2,903

-18.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.98 ₦1,341

60.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$2.23 ₦3,043

-46.19%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.69 ₦2,300

16.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$6.45 ₦8,794

151.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.14 ₦5,642

-26.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$5.53 ₦7,542

95.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$3.43 ₦4,677

-19.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.10 ₦2,858

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.95 ₦2,655

-12.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.64 ₦2,230

-3.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.47 ₦2,001

-5.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.81 ₦2,472

-35.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.91 ₦2,603

-65.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.35 ₦483

48.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.30 ₦1,772

257.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$2.21 ₦3,016

704.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$0.65 ₦880

175.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$0.95 ₦1,299

251.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.27 ₦369

237.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.24 ₦1,689

13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$2.15 ₦2,926

-37.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$4.72 ₦6,440

71.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$0.48 ₦652

156.25%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$20.2K ₦27.5M

6.31%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$20.3K ₦27.7M

7.50%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$21.21 ₦28.9K

236.30%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$9.96 ₦13.6K

40.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$17.04 ₦23.2K

5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.16 ₦8,399

-7.14%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$66.0 ₦89.9K

367.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,287 ₦3.1M

541.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$19.37 ₦26.4K

187.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$24.61 ₦33.5K

5.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$63.8 ₦86.9K

33.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$56.5 ₦77.0K

25.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$402 ₦547.3K

5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$268 ₦364.7K

-9.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$664 ₦904.9K

20.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$525 ₦716.1K

-3.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$37.16 ₦50.7K

1501.32%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Akure: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 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 1501% 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: $244 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, $647 in Akure – roughly 32% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $970 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 37% 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 $647 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 $647 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.