๐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,597 in Skuteฤ, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,288 in Skuteฤ, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,978 in Skuteฤ, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai is about 46% cheaper than Skuteฤ, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Skuteฤ is 19% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94เธฟ63.6
$8.77Kฤย 183
-77.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64เธฟ609
$44.12Kฤย 920
-57.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82เธฟ256
$8.96Kฤย 187
-12.72%
Cappuccino
$1.95เธฟ63.9
$2.97Kฤย 61.9
-34.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85เธฟ27.80
$1.90Kฤย 39.65
-55.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35เธฟ11.60
$1.39Kฤย 29.04
-74.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13เธฟ69.7
$2.33Kฤย 48.65
-8.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73เธฟ122
$2.79Kฤย 58.2
33.69%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ56.0
$1.15Kฤย 23.89
48.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63เธฟ53.3
$1.46Kฤย 30.34
11.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14เธฟ37.18
$2.33Kฤย 48.58
-51.07%
Eggs
$1.93เธฟ63.2
$3.02Kฤย 63.0
-36.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21เธฟ530
$12.29Kฤย 256
31.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12เธฟ102
$9.14Kฤย 191
-65.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90เธฟ356
$12.99Kฤย 271
-16.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75เธฟ90.1
$1.71Kฤย 35.60
60.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21เธฟ39.56
$1.76Kฤย 36.73
-31.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62เธฟ53.0
$2.19Kฤย 45.56
-26.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.9
$3.52Kฤย 73.3
-54.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40เธฟ45.75
$1.25Kฤย 26.12
12.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ38.20
$1.19Kฤย 24.86
-1.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.62
$1.54Kฤย 32.05
-57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53เธฟ17.24
$0.75Kฤย 15.68
-29.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69เธฟ153
$6.98Kฤย 145
-32.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66เธฟ610
$7.54Kฤย 157
147.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ58.8
$0.92Kฤย 19.16
95.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23เธฟ106
$1.93Kฤย 40.15
67.36%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ29.28
$1.16Kฤย 24.15
-22.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21เธฟ628
$26.05Kฤย 543
-26.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.96
$2.20Kฤย 45.77
-35.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29เธฟ42.16
$1.33Kฤย 27.64
-3.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84เธฟ256
$14.42Kฤย 301
-45.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27เธฟ41.62
$1.74Kฤย 36.23
-27.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ695.5K
$28.4KKฤย 592.2K
-25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2Kเธฟ726.1K
$30.0KKฤย 626.4K
-26.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1เธฟ2,258
$288Kฤย 6,014
-76.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08เธฟ460
$27.13Kฤย 566
-48.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00เธฟ588
$20.92Kฤย 436
-13.96%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06เธฟ1,342
$53.4Kฤย 1,113
-23.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96เธฟ227
$16.62Kฤย 346
-58.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ193
$10.22Kฤย 213
-42.07%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,775
$411Kฤย 8,569
-27.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kเธฟ488.8K
$10.2KKฤย 212.3K
46.80%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7เธฟ1,788
$81.6Kฤย 1,701
-32.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77เธฟ875
$37.22Kฤย 776
-28.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0เธฟ2,778
$94.6Kฤย 1,972
-10.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6เธฟ2,308
$109Kฤย 2,279
-35.42%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428เธฟ14.0K
$672Kฤย 14.0K
-36.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237เธฟ7,759
$561Kฤย 11.7K
-57.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801เธฟ26.2K
$1,153Kฤย 24.0K
-30.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515เธฟ16.9K
$864Kฤย 18.0K
-40.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975เธฟ64.5K
$4,499Kฤย 93.8K
-56.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475เธฟ48.2K
$3,507Kฤย 73.1K
-57.95%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Skuteฤ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617เธฟ20.2K
$1,325Kฤย 27.6K
-53.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.45
-8.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Skuteฤ: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $672 in Skuteฤ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 115% higher in Skuteฤ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Skuteฤ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $259 โ making Chiang Mai 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 Skuteฤ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
Skuteฤ costs about 84% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Skuteฤ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,396 in Skuteฤ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Skuteฤ?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $411 in Skuteฤ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Skuteฤ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Skuteฤ at $1,597. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skuteฤ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,597 in Skuteฤ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Skuteฤ?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Skuteฤ?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skuteฤ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared