Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Haripur

For one person, living is cheaper in Haripur: $463 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Haripur
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$463
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Haripur

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Haripur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $463 in Haripur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Haripur $463

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $675 in Haripur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Haripur $675

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Haripur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Haripur $888

Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Haripur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Haripur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Haripur 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$2.50 PKR 692
-8.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$8.99 PKR 2,487
118.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$5.37 PKR 1,486
4.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.12 PKR 587
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86 PKR 793
-
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.11 PKR 861
-46.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$0.41 PKR 112
70.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$0.17 PKR 46.70
82.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.01 PKR 281
93.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$0.88 PKR 245
60.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$1.09 PKR 302
20.18%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.10 PKR 306
98.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$3.60 PKR 995
362.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$3.21 PKR 889
-14.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$3.72 PKR 1,028
144.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$1.22 PKR 338
95.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$0.55 PKR 153
87.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$0.61 PKR 170
167.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$0.68 PKR 187
120.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.43 PKR 120
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$0.33 PKR 92.4
236.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$0.45 PKR 124
60.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.25 PKR 69.1
112.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.79 PKR 495
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.69 PKR 191
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70 PKR 194
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$1.77 PKR 490
143.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$0.21 PKR 57.1
309.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$10.05 PKR 2,783
430.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$1.06 PKR 292
14.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$0.73 PKR 203
-21.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$1.41 PKR 389
66.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.22 PKR 338
18.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
-8.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$26.3K PKR 7.3M
2.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$117 PKR 32.5K
-46.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$8.36 PKR 2,313
44.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$14.52 PKR 4,019
37.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$15.10 PKR 4,179
145.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
$8.00 PKR 2,215
-52.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$1.95 PKR 540
233.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$46.49 PKR 12.9K
1604.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$1,020 PKR 282.4K
1351.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$7.28 PKR 2,016
638.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$16.18 PKR 4,479
52.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$51.5 PKR 14.3K
76.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$33.23 PKR 9,196
114.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$128 PKR 35.3K
256.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
$75.8 PKR 21.0K
293.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
$256 PKR 70.8K
255.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
$146 PKR 40.5K
278.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
$914 PKR 252.9K
111.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
$480 PKR 132.9K
200.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Haripur: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Haripur
$76 74.6% $222
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Haripur
$88 62.7% $148
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Haripur
$49 55% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Haripur
$140 48.7% $46
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Haripur
$76 3.7% $2.9
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Haripur
$16 74.3% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Haripur
$19 62% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $128 in Haripur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Haripur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $88.0 – making Haripur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇰 Haripur
🕒 Local time
19:34 7:34 PM
17:34 5:34 PM
2 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
85,739
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Haripur 3,080 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Haripur

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Haripur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Haripur?
Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Haripur, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Haripur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $694 in Haripur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Haripur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Haripur, 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 in Haripur?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.49 in Haripur. 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 in Haripur?
Groceries cost about 168% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Haripur?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Haripur, where all-in costs run around $463, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Haripur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Haripur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Haripur costs $463 versus $925 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 Haripur?
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 to Haripur?
If budget matters most, go with Haripur. 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.

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