Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Shkoder

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $980 in Shkoder, rent and utilities included – about $530 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
47

Cost of Living Index in Shkoder
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Shkoder Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Shkoder

🇦🇱 Albania

$980

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Shkoder

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Shkoder actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $980 in Shkoder, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Shkoder $980

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,474 in Shkoder, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Shkoder $1,474

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,969 in Shkoder, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Shkoder $1,969

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Shkoder, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shkoder are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Shkoder 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$9.30 ALL 751

-75.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$38.93 ALL 3,144

-51.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$6.21 ALL 502

-10.63%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$1.93 ALL 156

-13.47%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.83 ALL 148

-65.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.65 ALL 52.4

-52.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.84 ALL 148

28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.18 ALL 257

15.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.89 ALL 153

3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.97 ALL 78.7

48.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$2.01 ALL 163

-33.83%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.60 ALL 210

-12.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$7.23 ALL 584

127.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$5.11 ALL 412

-45.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.81 ALL 873

-13.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$1.65 ALL 134

42.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$2.35 ALL 190

-58.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.72 ALL 139

-6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$1.45 ALL 117

3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.02 ALL 82.4

25.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.23 ALL 99.0

-10.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.14 ALL 92.0

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.77 ALL 62.3

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.23 ALL 341

-2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$6.14 ALL 496

185.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.51 ALL 122

6.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.83 ALL 148

51.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.49 ALL 39.69

77.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$11.12 ALL 898

386.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$3.72 ALL 301

-68.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$3.85 ALL 311

-86.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$18.71 ALL 1,511

-87.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$2.17 ALL 176

-33.18%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$33.7K ALL 2.7M

-37.44%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$24.7K ALL 2.0M

9.11%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$61.7 ALL 4,981

0.81%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$16.47 ALL 1,331

-26.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$17.10 ALL 1,381

17.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$42.68 ALL 3,448

-12.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$12.53 ALL 1,012

-69.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$7.20 ALL 581

-9.86%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$91.1 ALL 7,358

708.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$1,835 ALL 148.2K

704.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$49.16 ALL 3,970

8.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$12.34 ALL 997

99.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$74.0 ALL 5,975

23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$147 ALL 11.8K

-50.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$489 ALL 39.5K

-1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$317 ALL 25.6K

-2.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$484 ALL 39.1K

107.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$412 ALL 33.3K

53.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,866 ALL 150.7K

26.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,232 ALL 99.5K

28.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$567 ALL 45.8K

4.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Shkoder: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Shkoder

$317 32.4% 2.7% $8.4

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Shkoder

$206 21% 12.1% $28

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Shkoder

$127 13% 16.8% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Shkoder

$95 9.7% 0.8% $0.8

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Shkoder

$142 14.5% 82.6% $64

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Shkoder

$36 3.7% 41.2% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Shkoder

$57 5.8% 13.5% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $489 in Shkoder. 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 4% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Shkoder. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Shkoder – so Shkoder wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Shkoder

🕒 Local time

05:04 5:04 AM

23:04 11:04 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

77,075

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ALL = 1.24 USD

100 ALL = 1.11 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.77 ALL (100 ALL = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.91 ALL (100 ALL = 1.11 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Shkoder 7,770 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Shkoder

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Shkoder: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shkoder costs about 5% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,470 in Shkoder. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $489 in Shkoder. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $91 in Shkoder. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Shkoder – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $980 in Shkoder. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $980 in Shkoder. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.