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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $500 in Mardan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Mardan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Mardan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mardan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mardan 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.59 PKR 994

-42.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$23.00 PKR 6,371

-14.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.53 PKR 1,531

2.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 PKR 994

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 PKR 1,918

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.62 PKR 725

-30.92%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.36 PKR 98.5

113.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.23 PKR 64.0

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.91 PKR 252

125.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.79 PKR 220

91.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.29 PKR 357

8.53%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.21 PKR 336

86.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$2.97 PKR 823

445.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.12 PKR 864

-7.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$3.74 PKR 1,035

151.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$0.94 PKR 260

185.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.74 PKR 205

47.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.06 PKR 295

52.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.37 PKR 103

294.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.28 PKR 78.3

357.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.35 PKR 98.2

202.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.28 PKR 76.4

157.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.37 PKR 103

43.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.77 PKR 489

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 326

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 PKR 746

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.78 PKR 493

137.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.16 PKR 43.23

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.72 PKR 2,970

401.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.30 PKR 359

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.74 PKR 205

-21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.66 PKR 460

43.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.02 PKR 283

42.16%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-2.03%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

10.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$104 PKR 28.9K

-38.89%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.69 PKR 1,575

126.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$15.72 PKR 4,353

30.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$14.73 PKR 4,079

164.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.34 PKR 1,203

51.61%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

941.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

1326.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$24.74 PKR 6,852

122.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$34.30 PKR 9,501

-27.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

-4.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

81.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$128 PKR 35.4K

284.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

269.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$250 PKR 69.4K

255.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$151 PKR 41.7K

245.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$994 PKR 275.4K

98.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$591 PKR 163.8K

144.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.08

-57.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $128 in Mardan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Mardan. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $85.0 in Mardan – so Mardan 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 Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Mardan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $750 in Mardan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $75.2 in Mardan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 183% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mardan, where all-in costs run around $500, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Mardan 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. Mardan costs $500 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 Mardan. 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.