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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $338 in Bahawalpur.

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

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

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 156% more expensive than Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.79 PKR 498

8.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$8.97 PKR 2,495

107.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.45 PKR 959

126.67%

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

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.29 PKR 359

51.16%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.31 PKR 84.9

174.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.24 PKR 67.1

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.49 PKR 135

248.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.57 PKR 159

185.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.30 PKR 360

-12.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.03 PKR 285

87.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.35 PKR 2,044

120.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.67 PKR 743

16.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$3.27 PKR 909

233.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.98 PKR 274

180.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.54 PKR 149

124.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.26 PKR 72.7

523.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.54 PKR 149

194.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.37 PKR 104

278.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.51 PKR 141

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.63 PKR 175

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.32 PKR 89.5

65.63%

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)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.87 PKR 521

150.80%

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)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 PKR 55.8

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$1.81 PKR 503

961.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.09 PKR 303

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.18 PKR 49.67

616.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.03 PKR 287

661.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.98 PKR 272

29.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-0.65%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

4.84%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

19.75%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.87 PKR 1,077

263.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.79 PKR 3,559

40.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$12.33 PKR 3,430

233.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.85 PKR 2,183

-11.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.11 PKR 586

180.57%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$26.12 PKR 7,266

1044.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$660 PKR 183.6K

2165.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$15.94 PKR 4,433

243.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$22.13 PKR 6,157

20.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

39.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$26.44 PKR 7,357

167.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$106 PKR 29.6K

302.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

339.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$225 PKR 62.7K

255.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$135 PKR 37.4K

283.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

-44.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$760 PKR 211.5K

94.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$137 PKR 38.1K

350.76%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $106 in Bahawalpur. 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $85.0 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 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.

Chiang Mai pays 351% more on average, 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $338 in Bahawalpur – 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, 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 156% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.