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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $382 in Skardu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $573 in Skardu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Skardu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 127% more than Skardu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Skardu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Skardu 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$1.75 PKR 488

10.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$10.62 PKR 2,956

75.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.11 PKR 1,144

90.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 1,001

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$0.46 PKR 128

323.91%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.35 PKR 96.2

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.23 PKR 64.1

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$0.73 PKR 202

134.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.60 PKR 167

171.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.21 PKR 338

-5.79%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.12 PKR 312

72.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$6.15 PKR 1,710

163.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.55 PKR 710

22.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$3.63 PKR 1,011

200.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.04 PKR 289

164.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$0.66 PKR 183

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.61 PKR 170

165.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.49 PKR 136

224.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.37 PKR 104

278.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.47 PKR 131

148.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.31 PKR 86.2

112.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.36 PKR 100

47.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 PKR 378

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.90 PKR 528

146.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.19 PKR 54.3

373.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$6.91 PKR 1,923

178.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.90 PKR 250

56.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.41 PKR 114

214.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$1.75 PKR 486

348.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.98 PKR 273

29.59%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

0.20%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

-2.70%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$102 PKR 28.4K

-32.34%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$7.18 PKR 1,999

96.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$11.13 PKR 3,096

61.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$12.57 PKR 3,498

226.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$5.83 PKR 1,624

19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$3.61 PKR 1,006

63.99%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$29.43 PKR 8,188

916.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

1266.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$15.31 PKR 4,259

257.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$22.03 PKR 6,131

21.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$69.1 PKR 19.2K

23.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$29.47 PKR 8,200

139.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

478.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

354.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$167 PKR 46.5K

379.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$108 PKR 30.0K

377.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$917 PKR 255.1K

115.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$567 PKR 157.9K

159.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-73.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skardu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $74.0 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Skardu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $86.0 – 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 127% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $573 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $29.43 in Skardu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 185% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $382 in Skardu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skardu costs $382 versus $866 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.