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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $338 in Bahawalpur versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $724 in Bahawalpur versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 61% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.94 ฿63.5

-7.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.97 PKR 2,495

$18.64 ฿609

-51.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 959

$7.82 ฿255

-55.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 PKR 1,299

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.95 ฿63.8

-33.85%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.85 ฿27.77

-63.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.35 ฿11.58

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 PKR 135

$1.71 ฿56.0

-71.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$1.63 ฿53.2

-65.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.14 ฿37.15

14.04%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.93 ฿63.1

-46.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 PKR 2,044

$16.21 ฿530

-54.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 743

$3.12 ฿102

-14.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 909

$10.90 ฿356

-70.00%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 274

$2.75 ฿90.0

-64.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$1.21 ฿39.52

-55.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$1.62 ฿53.0

-83.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$1.59 ฿51.8

-66.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$1.40 ฿45.70

-73.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$1.17 ฿38.17

-56.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.66 ฿21.60

-4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 89.5

$0.53 ฿17.22

-39.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 263

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 976

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$4.69 ฿153

-60.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.90 ฿29.26

-77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.81 PKR 503

$19.21 ฿628

-90.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.41 ฿45.91

-22.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 PKR 49.67

$1.29 ฿42.12

-86.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$7.84 ฿256

-86.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.27 ฿41.58

-22.83%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

0.65%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-4.62%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$69.1 ฿2,256

-16.49%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,077

$14.08 ฿460

-72.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.79 PKR 3,559

$18.00 ฿588

-28.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,430

$41.06 ฿1,341

-69.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 PKR 2,183

$6.96 ฿227

12.79%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 PKR 586

$5.92 ฿193

-64.36%

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

$26.12 PKR 7,266

$299 ฿9,766

-91.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.6K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-95.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,433

$54.7 ฿1,787

-70.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,157

$26.77 ฿874

-17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-28.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.44 PKR 7,357

$70.6 ฿2,306

-62.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.6K

$428 ฿14.0K

-75.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

$237 ฿7,752

-77.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.7K

$801 ฿26.2K

-71.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.4K

$515 ฿16.8K

-73.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

80.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.5K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-48.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 PKR 38.1K

$617 ฿20.2K

-77.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

260.00%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Bahawalpur and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 351% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 vs $246 per month, with Bahawalpur cheaper across the board.

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

Bahawalpur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 156% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 351% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Bahawalpur versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Bahawalpur versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 156% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 961% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bahawalpur delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $338 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bahawalpur hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bahawalpur and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.