😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Gujrat, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $536 in Gujrat, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $726 in Gujrat, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Gujrat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Gujrat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Gujrat74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$1.75PKR 487
10.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$10.70PKR 2,977
74.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$3.56PKR 992
119.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.78PKR 774
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.66PKR 1,297
-
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.51PKR 419
29.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.33PKR 92.3
157.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.22PKR 61.2
59.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.71PKR 198
140.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.61PKR 168
167.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.27PKR 352
-10.24%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$1.14PKR 318
69.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$7.46PKR 2,076
117.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$2.66PKR 740
17.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$3.21PKR 893
239.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$0.98PKR 273
180.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$0.55PKR 152
120.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$0.63PKR 175
157.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.56PKR 155
183.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.37PKR 104
278.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.52PKR 144
125.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.59PKR 164
11.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.40PKR 111
32.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01PKR 281
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74PKR 207
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.96PKR 547
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$1.82PKR 505
157.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.16PKR 45.52
462.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$6.91PKR 1,923
178.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$1.08PKR 300
30.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.44PKR 122
193.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$1.73PKR 480
353.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.00PKR 277
27.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$21.8KPKR 6.1M
-2.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
6.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$57.3PKR 15.9K
20.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$3.89PKR 1,082
261.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$12.92PKR 3,596
39.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$12.25PKR 3,408
235.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$5.90PKR 1,641
17.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$3.50PKR 974
69.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$28.20PKR 7,845
960.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$1,149PKR 319.7K
1201.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$16.28PKR 4,530
236.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$22.09PKR 6,145
21.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$59.9PKR 16.7K
41.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$26.16PKR 7,278
169.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$74.1PKR 20.6K
477.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$52.3PKR 14.5K
353.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$164PKR 45.5K
389.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$106PKR 29.4K
387.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$1,043PKR 290.2K
89.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$534PKR 148.6K
176.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gujrat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$246PKR 68.4K
151.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
18
-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 Gujrat: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $74.1 in Gujrat. 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 151% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Gujrat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $91.0 – making Gujrat 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 Gujrat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Gujrat, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Chiang Mai vs Gujrat?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $520 in Gujrat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gujrat, 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 Chiang Mai and Gujrat?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.20 in Gujrat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
Groceries cost about 171% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $346 in Gujrat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gujrat costs $346 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Gujrat?
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 Chiang Mai or Gujrat?
If budget matters most, go with Gujrat. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared