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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $437 in Skardu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $661 in Skardu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $885 in Skardu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Skardu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Skardu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Skardu 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.38 PKR 660

-12.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$12.05 PKR 3,341

62.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.76 PKR 1,319

18.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 778

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 PKR 1,403

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.44 PKR 399

25.69%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.39 PKR 107

82.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.23 PKR 64.6

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.87 PKR 242

125.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.59 PKR 164

154.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.15 PKR 320

16.52%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.23 PKR 340

83.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.30 PKR 1,745

158.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.53 PKR 701

16.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$5.19 PKR 1,439

91.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.12 PKR 309

129.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.59 PKR 163

79.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.74 PKR 205

117.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.46 PKR 128

230.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.31 PKR 86.8

309.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.33 PKR 90.5

224.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.33 PKR 90.4

118.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.38 PKR 104

34.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.77 PKR 492

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 283

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PKR 765

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$1.91 PKR 530

119.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.18 PKR 48.91

416.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$8.63 PKR 2,393

524.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.18 PKR 328

4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.77 PKR 213

-24.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.70 PKR 470

42.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.13 PKR 313

24.78%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$19.3K PKR 5.4M

10.99%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$22.2K PKR 6.1M

23.29%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$103 PKR 28.5K

-38.12%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$3.60 PKR 998

256.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$13.74 PKR 3,810

47.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$14.51 PKR 4,023

166.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$3.93 PKR 1,089

71.50%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$46.28 PKR 12.8K

1580.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$951 PKR 263.8K

1435.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$13.70 PKR 3,798

296.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$19.12 PKR 5,302

33.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

14.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$28.62 PKR 7,935

156.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$127 PKR 35.1K

286.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

334.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$253 PKR 70.1K

253.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$162 PKR 44.9K

218.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$901 PKR 249.8K

116.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$469 PKR 129.9K

215.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.88

-56.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Skardu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $127 in Skardu. 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 $12.00 in Skardu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $93.0 – making Skardu 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 Skardu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Skardu, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $656 in Skardu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.28 in Skardu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 158% 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 Skardu, where all-in costs run around $437, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Skardu 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. Skardu costs $437 versus $947 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 Skardu. 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.