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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $395 in Gujranwala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $624 in Gujranwala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $853 in Gujranwala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 140% more than Gujranwala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gujranwala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gujranwala 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.58 PKR 992

-41.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$12.47 PKR 3,458

57.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.45 PKR 1,511

3.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 PKR 247

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.75 PKR 1,873

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.14 PKR 315

58.77%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.21 PKR 58.2

238.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.16 PKR 44.89

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.86 PKR 238

127.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.73 PKR 202

105.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.13 PKR 314

18.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.27 PKR 353

77.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.05 PKR 1,676

168.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.38 PKR 659

23.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$5.19 PKR 1,438

91.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.34 PKR 373

91.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.83 PKR 230

27.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.92 PKR 255

75.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.48 PKR 134

216.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.29 PKR 81.1

337.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.32 PKR 89.7

234.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.27 PKR 73.8

166.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.37 PKR 101

37.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 305

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PKR 671

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.18 PKR 606

92.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.19 PKR 52.1

389.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.95 PKR 262

29.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.69 PKR 190

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.46 PKR 405

65.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.14 PKR 317

23.68%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.04%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

27.90%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$102 PKR 28.1K

-37.27%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.49 PKR 1,522

134.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$16.34 PKR 4,529

23.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$7.18 PKR 1,989

439.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.94 PKR 1,646

-33.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.24 PKR 1,175

58.96%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$28.01 PKR 7,765

2677.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$961 PKR 266.5K

1419.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$14.42 PKR 3,998

276.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$24.95 PKR 6,916

2.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$73.4 PKR 20.3K

28.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$33.45 PKR 9,275

119.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$54.7 PKR 15.2K

794.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$31.57 PKR 8,754

816.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$162 PKR 44.8K

452.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$96.7 PKR 26.8K

434.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$238 PKR 66.0K

153.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.5

-51.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Gujranwala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $54.7 in Gujranwala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 153% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Gujranwala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $96.0 – making Gujranwala 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 Gujranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 140% more than Gujranwala, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $593 in Gujranwala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gujranwala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $12.00 in Gujranwala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gujranwala, where all-in costs run around $395, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gujranwala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gujranwala costs $395 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gujranwala. 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.