😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $422 in Haripur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Haripur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $828 in Haripur, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Haripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Haripur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Haripur68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$2.81PKR 782
-30.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$7.27PKR 2,021
156.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$5.15PKR 1,433
51.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.75PKR 488
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.91PKR 1,087
-
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.26PKR 350
54.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.27PKR 74.8
214.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.16PKR 44.30
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.69PKR 192
147.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.37PKR 102
340.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$0.92PKR 255
23.91%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$0.91PKR 253
112.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$6.02PKR 1,674
169.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$1.61PKR 447
93.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$2.44PKR 679
346.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.00PKR 277
175.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$0.69PKR 191
75.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$0.94PKR 263
72.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.40PKR 112
297.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.24PKR 66.2
483.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.19PKR 52.0
515.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.31PKR 86.0
112.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.34PKR 94.5
55.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.32PKR 366
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.92PKR 255
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95PKR 541
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$0.84PKR 233
458.33%
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
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.17PKR 47.39
429.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$7.00PKR 1,948
174.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$0.85PKR 237
65.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.44PKR 122
193.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.81PKR 783
179.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$0.90PKR 251
41.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$21.0KPKR 5.9M
1.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$26.5KPKR 7.4M
-16.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$114PKR 31.8K
-39.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$5.62PKR 1,564
150.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$18.95PKR 5,272
-5.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$12.44PKR 3,460
230.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$5.87PKR 1,633
18.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$4.27PKR 1,187
38.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$59.6PKR 16.6K
401.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$1,119PKR 311.4K
1235.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$21.31PKR 5,928
156.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$27.97PKR 7,780
-4.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$88.5PKR 24.6K
-3.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$40.02PKR 11.1K
76.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$73.7PKR 20.5K
481.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$52.2PKR 14.5K
354.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$169PKR 47.1K
373.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$105PKR 29.1K
392.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$846PKR 235.3K
133.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$519PKR 144.4K
184.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Haripur: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $73.7 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Haripur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 105% 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 vs Haripur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $634 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 Haripur?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $59.6 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 Haripur?
Groceries cost about 239% 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 Haripur?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $422 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 $422 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 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 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