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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $477 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $727 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $978 in Karachi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.14 PKR 595

-9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$12.44 PKR 3,461

49.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.06 PKR 1,129

92.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.89 PKR 525

3.17%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.36 PKR 101

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.23 PKR 64.2

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.83 PKR 231

106.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.58 PKR 161

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.13 PKR 315

0.88%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.21 PKR 337

59.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.29 PKR 1,749

157.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.19 PKR 887

-2.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.91 PKR 1,365

122.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.03 PKR 287

166.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.58 PKR 162

108.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.93 PKR 258

74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.56 PKR 156

183.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.39 PKR 108

258.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.51 PKR 141

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.38 PKR 107

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.43 PKR 120

23.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.08 PKR 580

125.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.34 PKR 94.4

164.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.33 PKR 1,762

203.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.74 PKR 205

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.61 PKR 171

111.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.79 PKR 497

337.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.92 PKR 256

38.04%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

29.73%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-9.24%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$132 PKR 36.8K

-47.79%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.90 PKR 1,362

187.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.63 PKR 3,791

32.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$15.55 PKR 4,325

164.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-51.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.33 PKR 1,203

36.72%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

415.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

966.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$17.73 PKR 4,932

208.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$25.51 PKR 7,097

4.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

32.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$35.86 PKR 9,975

96.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$122 PKR 33.8K

252.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

221.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$323 PKR 89.8K

148.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$182 PKR 50.6K

183.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$985 PKR 273.9K

100.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$457 PKR 127.2K

222.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$181 PKR 50.2K

242.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-71.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Karachi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 242% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $97.0 – making Karachi 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 Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Karachi, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $715 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.0 in Karachi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 154% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $477 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karachi costs $477 versus $866 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 Karachi. 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.