😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $426 in Haripur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $628 in Haripur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $829 in Haripur, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Haripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Haripur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Haripur68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$2.82PKR 782
-30.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$7.17PKR 1,990
155.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$5.15PKR 1,431
45.24%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.75PKR 486
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.83PKR 1,063
-
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$1.27PKR 353
59.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.29PKR 81.1
193.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.18PKR 50.0
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.69PKR 192
139.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.37PKR 102
324.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$0.90PKR 250
32.22%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$0.89PKR 248
117.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$6.17PKR 1,714
162.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$1.55PKR 431
92.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$2.45PKR 681
346.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$1.00PKR 279
171.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$0.73PKR 202
60.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$0.94PKR 261
79.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.40PKR 112
300.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.26PKR 72.3
430.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.18PKR 51.0
566.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.31PKR 84.8
116.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.33PKR 92.6
69.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.46PKR 406
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.87PKR 240
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95PKR 541
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$0.90PKR 251
415.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.16PKR 44.36
450.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$7.20PKR 2,000
168.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$0.89PKR 248
52.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.44PKR 122
204.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$2.76PKR 766
197.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$0.91PKR 253
34.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
-15.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$114PKR 31.6K
-37.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$5.55PKR 1,541
152.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$18.97PKR 5,267
-7.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$12.34PKR 3,425
241.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$5.85PKR 1,625
17.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$4.12PKR 1,143
43.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$58.9PKR 16.3K
424.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$1,095PKR 304.1K
1258.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$21.69PKR 6,023
157.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$28.20PKR 7,830
-7.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$87.6PKR 24.3K
-5.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$39.52PKR 11.0K
78.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$75.9PKR 21.1K
469.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$51.0PKR 14.2K
368.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$164PKR 45.5K
401.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$104PKR 28.9K
391.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$854PKR 237.2K
124.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$421PKR 117.0K
248.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
20.2
-75.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Haripur: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $75.9 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Haripur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $73.0 – making Haripur 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 Haripur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Haripur?
Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Haripur, 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 and in Haripur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $640 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.9 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 234% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Haripur?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $426 in Haripur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Haripur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Haripur costs $426 versus $861 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared