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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $390 in Jhelum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $596 in Jhelum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $803 in Jhelum, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jhelum are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Jhelum 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.76 PKR 488

18.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.62 PKR 2,943

84.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.25 PKR 1,456

8.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 707

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 PKR 607

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.52 PKR 422

19.08%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.47 PKR 131

63.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.32 PKR 89.2

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.63 PKR 174

225.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.66 PKR 182

128.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.27 PKR 351

10.24%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.21 PKR 335

86.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$2.66 PKR 738

508.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.33 PKR 645

24.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$2.62 PKR 725

259.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.04 PKR 287

157.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.35 PKR 96.5

211.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.55 PKR 152

194.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.47 PKR 129

210.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.31 PKR 87.0

312.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.37 PKR 104

186.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.54 PKR 150

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.42 PKR 117

26.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 494

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 PKR 146

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 PKR 722

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.36 PKR 653

79.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.18 PKR 48.68

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$9.48 PKR 2,625

467.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.05 PKR 291

11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.06 PKR 295

-45.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.84 PKR 788

-15.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.11 PKR 308

30.63%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-11.84%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

12.78%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

-3.94%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.65 PKR 1,566

128.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$14.69 PKR 4,070

39.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$15.16 PKR 4,198

157.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$7.29 PKR 2,020

-9.74%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$26.13 PKR 7,237

2899.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$2,033 PKR 563.1K

621.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$18.92 PKR 5,241

191.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$26.69 PKR 7,395

-7.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$54.8 PKR 15.2K

71.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$30.28 PKR 8,389

144.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$142 PKR 39.4K

244.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

299.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$226 PKR 62.7K

293.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$161 PKR 44.5K

224.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$992 PKR 274.8K

98.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$494 PKR 136.9K

192.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.83

-52.92%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $142 in Jhelum. 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 Jhelum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $71.0 – making Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Jhelum, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $585 in Jhelum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.13 in Jhelum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jhelum, where all-in costs run around $390, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Jhelum 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. Jhelum costs $390 versus $932 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 Jhelum. 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.