Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mandi Bahauddin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mandi Bahauddin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $333 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $511 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$1.76 PKR 489

11.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$8.78 PKR 2,441

109.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$3.50 PKR 974

124.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 807

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 PKR 1,362

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.09 PKR 303

78.90%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.31 PKR 85.4

174.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.24 PKR 66.9

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.69 PKR 193

140.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.40 PKR 112

290.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.26 PKR 349

-5.56%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.15 PKR 320

73.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$6.20 PKR 1,725

161.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$2.70 PKR 750

17.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$3.14 PKR 872

245.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.03 PKR 287

157.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$0.54 PKR 151

125.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$0.66 PKR 184

150.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.52 PKR 145

198.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.38 PKR 104

250.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.51 PKR 141

137.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.63 PKR 176

7.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.42 PKR 117

35.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.00 PKR 278

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 191

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$1.90 PKR 527

146.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.19 PKR 51.6

378.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$6.87 PKR 1,909

172.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$1.08 PKR 302

30.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.53 PKR 146

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$1.75 PKR 487

365.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$0.94 PKR 261

36.17%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-1.70%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

4.50%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

19.40%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$3.71 PKR 1,031

278.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$12.99 PKR 3,610

35.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$12.36 PKR 3,436

234.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$5.95 PKR 1,653

13.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$3.53 PKR 981

68.84%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$28.11 PKR 7,816

977.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$1,133 PKR 315.1K

1219.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$15.92 PKR 4,427

243.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$22.49 PKR 6,253

16.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

42.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$25.95 PKR 7,216

168.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

469.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

361.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$167 PKR 46.4K

386.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$108 PKR 29.9K

373.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$760 PKR 211.3K

166.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$412 PKR 114.4K

264.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-72.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $75.2 in Mandi Bahauddin. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $86.0 – making Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Mandi Bahauddin, 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $499 in Mandi Bahauddin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.11 in Mandi Bahauddin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 183% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $333 in Mandi Bahauddin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandi Bahauddin costs $333 versus $848 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 Mandi Bahauddin. 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.