Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Daska and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Daska: $511 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Daska
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$511
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $511 per month in Daska vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Daska $511
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $799 per month in Daska vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Daska $799
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,087 per month in Daska vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Daska $1,087
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Daska is about 46% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Daska and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Daska 62% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 PKR 975
$2.26 ฿75.4
55.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.73 PKR 6,567
$19.18 ฿641
23.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,473
$5.59 ฿187
-4.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 PKR 988
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73 PKR 1,861
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.62 PKR 726
$1.72 ฿57.6
52.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 89.5
$0.64 ฿21.54
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 57.9
$0.33 ฿11.18
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.36 ฿78.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.90 ฿130
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 256
$2.05 ฿68.6
-55.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 PKR 210
$1.40 ฿46.70
-45.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 PKR 342
$1.28 ฿42.89
-3.13%
Eggs
$1.26 PKR 349
$2.25 ฿75.3
-44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.01 PKR 1,664
$16.94 ฿566
-64.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.18 PKR 880
$2.74 ฿91.6
16.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.33 PKR 1,474
$9.36 ฿313
-43.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 PKR 375
$2.40 ฿80.3
-43.75%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$1.01 ฿33.92
-15.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 282
$1.61 ฿53.9
-36.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 150
$1.52 ฿50.7
-64.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 77.7
$1.28 ฿42.90
-78.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 97.7
$1.11 ฿37.22
-68.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 PKR 76.9
$0.72 ฿24.09
-61.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.52 ฿17.54
-26.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.79 PKR 495
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 PKR 333
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 PKR 654
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 PKR 633
$4.33 ฿145
-47.11%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.73 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.85 ฿95.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 44.78
$0.85 ฿28.31
-81.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.66 PKR 2,673
$53.9 ฿1,801
-82.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 PKR 342
$1.17 ฿39.18
5.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 PKR 196
$0.57 ฿19.00
24.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 PKR 455
$2.37 ฿79.2
-30.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 PKR 369
$1.45 ฿48.32
-8.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 5.9M
$20.5K ฿684.3K
4.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K PKR 6.6M
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-9.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 PKR 28.8K
$62.3 ฿2,083
67.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.96 PKR 1,651
$12.27 ฿410
-51.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.36 PKR 4,528
$19.97 ฿668
-18.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.07 PKR 4,171
$37.91 ฿1,267
-60.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.95 PKR 2,201
$3.76 ฿126
111.44%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 PKR 1,176
$6.71 ฿224
-36.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.3 PKR 20.8K
$797 ฿26.6K
-90.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,045 PKR 289.1K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-92.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.65 PKR 6,822
$53.3 ฿1,780
-53.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26 PKR 9,759
$25.05 ฿837
40.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 PKR 27.0K
$91.6 ฿3,062
6.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.12 PKR 11.1K
$73.5 ฿2,455
-45.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$126 PKR 34.9K
$464 ฿15.5K
-72.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.2 PKR 21.1K
$305 ฿10.2K
-75.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 PKR 71.1K
$915 ฿30.6K
-71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 PKR 40.7K
$552 ฿18.5K
-73.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$923 PKR 255.5K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-51.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$490 PKR 135.7K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-65.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Daska
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$595 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.08
5.57
134.83%

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

Last update for Daska: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daska
$126
Chiang Mai
$95 25.2% $32
Groceries & Markets
Daska
$103
Chiang Mai
$238 132% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Daska
$89
Chiang Mai
$110 23.3% $21
Eating Out
Daska
$78
Chiang Mai
$79 1.6% $1.2
Accommodation & Living
Daska
$76
Chiang Mai
$305 300% $229
Sport & Entertainment
Daska
$24
Chiang Mai
$51 118% $28
Getting Around
Daska
$15
Chiang Mai
$61 306% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Daska versus $464 in Chiang Mai. 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 $24.00 in Daska versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Daska vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Daska wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Daska
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
13:42 1:42 PM
15:42 3:42 PM
2 h ahead of Daska
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
175,170
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Daska Chiang Mai 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Daska
  • Chiang Mai

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
Daska vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Daska or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 84% more than Daska, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Daska and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $766 per month in Daska and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Daska or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daska, 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 Daska and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $75.3 per month in Daska and $797 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Daska or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 132% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Daska or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daska, where all-in costs run around $511, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Daska it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Daska or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Daska costs $511 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Daska compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Daska or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Daska. 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.

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