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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $275 in Akure, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $441 in Akure, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $607 in Akure, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 245% more than Akure, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Akure are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Akure 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.10 ₦1,458

90.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$8.73 ₦11.6K

127.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.53 ₦9,979

-23.11%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.82 ₦3,731

-35.11%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.21 ₦277

271.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.14 ₦188

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.02 ₦1,350

129.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.95 ₦2,585

89.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.47 ₦1,942

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.59 ₦778

171.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.18 ₦1,567

20.34%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.77 ₦1,017

183.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.45 ₦4,577

361.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.99 ₦5,284

-23.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$2.30 ₦3,044

329.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.46 ₦1,937

80.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.73 ₦964

50.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.64 ₦844

154.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.93 ₦1,239

64.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.83 ₦1,104

49.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.93 ₦1,230

21.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.83 ₦1,102

-10.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.37 ₦487

35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$0.54 ₦713

692.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$2.19 ₦2,902

720.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.50 ₦665

240.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$0.49 ₦652

491.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.70 ₦928

75.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.97 ₦1,290

-45.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$2.21 ₦2,935

8.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.17 ₦221

747.06%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$11.3K ₦15.0M

87.15%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$13.4K ₦17.8M

103.34%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$11.00 ₦14.6K

490.27%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$5.14 ₦6,807

159.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$9.19 ₦12.2K

126.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.83 ₦6,397

38.92%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$653 ₦865.8K

20.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$19.6K ₦26.0M

-22.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$14.44 ₦19.1K

289.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$18.10 ₦24.0K

37.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$36.85 ₦48.8K

151.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$49.04 ₦65.0K

53.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$36.86 ₦48.9K

1542.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.05

-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Akure: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1542% 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 $9.00 in Akure. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $104 – 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $275 in Akure – roughly 245% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $413 in Akure. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $9.00 in Akure. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Akure, where all-in costs run around $275, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Akure it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $275 in Akure to $950 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.