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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $502 in Jaranwala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Jaranwala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $970 in Jaranwala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Jaranwala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jaranwala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jaranwala 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$2.01 PKR 557

3.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$15.95 PKR 4,424

23.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.86 PKR 1,626

-3.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 486

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PKR 945

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.95 PKR 541

-7.18%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.43 PKR 120

65.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.23 PKR 63.5

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.91 PKR 253

115.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.54 PKR 151

177.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.21 PKR 337

10.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.12 PKR 310

101.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$6.05 PKR 1,679

168.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.49 PKR 969

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$5.10 PKR 1,415

94.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.16 PKR 321

121.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$0.86 PKR 238

23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.21 PKR 337

33.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.57 PKR 159

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.36 PKR 99.4

252.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.45 PKR 124

137.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.34 PKR 93.0

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.39 PKR 109

30.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 PKR 645

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$1.99 PKR 553

110.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.17 PKR 46.49

447.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$8.60 PKR 2,386

526.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.87 PKR 241

41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.36 PKR 100

61.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.59 PKR 442

52.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.12 PKR 312

25.89%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

21.34%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

12.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$113 PKR 31.4K

-43.77%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.78 PKR 1,604

122.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$18.82 PKR 5,221

7.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$14.40 PKR 3,996

169.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$4.39 PKR 1,217

53.53%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$49.67 PKR 13.8K

1466.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$832 PKR 230.8K

1656.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$20.90 PKR 5,797

159.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$28.12 PKR 7,802

-9.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$91.9 PKR 25.5K

2.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$36.90 PKR 10.2K

99.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$141 PKR 39.2K

246.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

303.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$280 PKR 77.7K

218.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$130 PKR 36.1K

297.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$913 PKR 253.3K

114.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$507 PKR 140.8K

191.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

22.81

-75.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jaranwala: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $141 in Jaranwala. 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 $16.00 in Jaranwala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $101 – making Jaranwala 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 Jaranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Jaranwala, 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 $753 in Jaranwala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jaranwala, 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 $49.67 in Jaranwala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 137% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaranwala, where all-in costs run around $502, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Jaranwala 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. Jaranwala costs $502 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 Jaranwala. 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.