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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $396 in Larkana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $592 in Larkana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $788 in Larkana, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Larkana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Larkana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Larkana 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$1.78 PKR 497

8.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$10.69 PKR 2,975

74.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.22 PKR 1,174

85.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 971

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.50 PKR 418

30.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.35 PKR 96.0

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.23 PKR 64.3

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$0.76 PKR 212

125.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.60 PKR 168

171.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.16 PKR 323

-1.72%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.17 PKR 325

64.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$5.95 PKR 1,656

172.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.64 PKR 735

18.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$3.59 PKR 999

203.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.00 PKR 278

175.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$0.65 PKR 181

86.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.61 PKR 170

165.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.49 PKR 136

224.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.35 PKR 97.3

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.48 PKR 133

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.31 PKR 85.5

112.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.34 PKR 94.4

55.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 381

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 238

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 547

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.90 PKR 528

146.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.17 PKR 48.37

429.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$6.92 PKR 1,925

177.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.91 PKR 253

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.43 PKR 120

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$1.81 PKR 504

333.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.92 PKR 255

38.04%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

0.22%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

-1.25%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$103 PKR 28.6K

-32.72%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$3.94 PKR 1,098

257.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$13.48 PKR 3,752

33.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$12.21 PKR 3,397

236.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$5.82 PKR 1,620

19.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$3.53 PKR 982

67.71%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$29.96 PKR 8,336

898.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$1,093 PKR 304.1K

1268.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$15.35 PKR 4,271

256.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$22.27 PKR 6,196

20.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$69.5 PKR 19.3K

22.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$29.10 PKR 8,097

142.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$75.4 PKR 21.0K

468.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

350.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$167 PKR 46.5K

379.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$106 PKR 29.5K

385.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$996 PKR 277.1K

98.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$520 PKR 144.8K

183.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-73.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Larkana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $75.4 in Larkana. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Larkana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $86.0 – making Larkana 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 Larkana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Larkana, 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 $593 in Larkana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Larkana, 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 $29.96 in Larkana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 187% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $396 in Larkana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Larkana costs $396 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 Larkana. 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.