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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $484 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $735 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Karachi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 78% more than Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.06 PKR 572

-4.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$12.56 PKR 3,487

46.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.99 PKR 1,108

87.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.81 PKR 503

11.60%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.33 PKR 92.7

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.21 PKR 58.0

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.79 PKR 220

108.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.58 PKR 161

170.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.18 PKR 328

0.85%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.15 PKR 321

68.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.41 PKR 1,781

152.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.12 PKR 867

-4.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$5.09 PKR 1,413

114.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.03 PKR 286

163.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.60 PKR 166

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.92 PKR 257

83.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.57 PKR 159

180.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.35 PKR 98.2

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.50 PKR 140

140.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.36 PKR 99.8

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.41 PKR 113

36.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.16 PKR 599

114.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.33 PKR 92.7

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$6.43 PKR 1,785

200.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.74 PKR 206

83.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.61 PKR 170

119.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.74 PKR 484

371.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.94 PKR 261

29.79%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

27.54%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-10.85%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$134 PKR 37.3K

-47.40%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.00 PKR 1,388

180.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$13.28 PKR 3,689

31.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$15.87 PKR 4,406

165.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-52.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.34 PKR 1,206

36.41%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

425.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

996.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$17.71 PKR 4,919

214.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.79 PKR 7,163

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

29.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$35.84 PKR 9,953

96.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$118 PKR 32.8K

265.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

219.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$319 PKR 88.6K

157.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$181 PKR 50.3K

182.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$932 PKR 258.7K

105.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$433 PKR 120.3K

238.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$177 PKR 49.1K

227.36%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $118 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 227% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 78% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $726 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.8 in Karachi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $484 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karachi costs $484 versus $861 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.