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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $337 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $725 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 155% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.74 PKR 484

12.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$8.78 PKR 2,439

109.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.47 PKR 964

115.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 388

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.29 PKR 358

56.59%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.30 PKR 84.7

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.22 PKR 60.9

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.51 PKR 142

223.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.53 PKR 146

196.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.23 PKR 341

-3.25%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.05 PKR 292

84.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.37 PKR 2,047

119.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.57 PKR 714

16.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$3.25 PKR 903

236.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.99 PKR 275

173.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.55 PKR 153

112.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.26 PKR 72.8

550.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.53 PKR 148

201.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.35 PKR 96.5

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.51 PKR 141

135.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.63 PKR 174

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.30 PKR 82.9

86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 270

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 PKR 963

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.84 PKR 511

152.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.20 PKR 56.4

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$1.80 PKR 499

974.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.08 PKR 301

25.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.21 PKR 57.0

538.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.07 PKR 297

667.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.98 PKR 271

24.49%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-0.15%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

7.17%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

22.82%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.89 PKR 1,080

260.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$12.75 PKR 3,541

37.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$12.44 PKR 3,454

238.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$8.09 PKR 2,247

-14.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.18 PKR 605

171.56%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$26.76 PKR 7,431

1052.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$681 PKR 189.1K

2084.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$15.92 PKR 4,419

250.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$22.24 PKR 6,174

17.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

39.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$26.13 PKR 7,255

169.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$105 PKR 29.2K

310.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

345.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$234 PKR 65.0K

251.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$135 PKR 37.5K

279.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

-44.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$780 PKR 216.5K

88.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$135 PKR 37.5K

329.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-72.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 329% 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $84.0 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

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

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 155% 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.

Average pay runs 329% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $337 in Bahawalpur – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 974% 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 $337 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bahawalpur hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bahawalpur 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 155% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.