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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $488 in Haroonabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $716 in Haroonabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Haroonabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Haroonabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Haroonabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Haroonabad 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.56 PKR 710

-18.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$10.84 PKR 3,005

81.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.71 PKR 1,582

-1.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 PKR 1,019

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 PKR 1,456

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.49 PKR 689

-27.31%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.39 PKR 109

82.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.26 PKR 72.5

23.08%

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

$0.91 PKR 252

115.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.67 PKR 185

123.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.18 PKR 327

13.56%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.24 PKR 345

82.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.31 PKR 1,750

157.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.52 PKR 698

17.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$4.75 PKR 1,318

109.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.16 PKR 322

121.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.63 PKR 174

68.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.82 PKR 227

96.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.64 PKR 178

137.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.28 PKR 77.0

353.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.33 PKR 91.3

224.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.48 PKR 134

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.37 PKR 103

37.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 293

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 167

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PKR 456

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.10 PKR 581

99.52%

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

$0.17 PKR 46.04

447.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$10.60 PKR 2,938

408.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.88 PKR 244

39.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.69 PKR 192

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.84 PKR 509

31.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.28 PKR 355

10.16%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

18.17%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

2.60%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$121 PKR 33.5K

-47.34%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.38 PKR 1,493

138.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$10.67 PKR 2,958

89.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$15.17 PKR 4,205

155.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.41 PKR 1,224

52.83%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$10.84 PKR 3,004

7076.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,062 PKR 294.5K

1275.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$10.66 PKR 2,956

409.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$25.55 PKR 7,084

-0.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

27.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$28.50 PKR 7,901

157.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$122 PKR 33.8K

301.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

243.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$248 PKR 68.6K

260.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$163 PKR 45.1K

217.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$834 PKR 231.3K

134.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$588 PKR 163.1K

151.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.22

-60.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Haroonabad: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Haroonabad. 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 $11.00 in Haroonabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $95.0 – making Haroonabad 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 Haroonabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Haroonabad, 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 $732 in Haroonabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $10.84 in Haroonabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 152% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Haroonabad, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Haroonabad 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. Haroonabad costs $488 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 Haroonabad. 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.