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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $335 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $519 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $704 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.75 PKR 487

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$8.92 PKR 2,475

109.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.43 PKR 953

129.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 797

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 PKR 1,330

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.04 PKR 289

95.19%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.33 PKR 91.9

142.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.22 PKR 60.7

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.70 PKR 194

147.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.40 PKR 112

292.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.26 PKR 350

-4.76%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.20 PKR 334

64.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.00 PKR 1,664

170.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.70 PKR 748

13.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.18 PKR 882

239.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.98 PKR 273

182.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.59 PKR 164

98.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.65 PKR 181

163.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.53 PKR 147

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.37 PKR 104

275.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.50 PKR 140

132.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.63 PKR 175

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.42 PKR 117

23.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 269

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 204

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 562

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.88 PKR 521

147.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.20 PKR 54.3

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$7.17 PKR 1,990

159.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.08 PKR 299

30.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.53 PKR 147

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.81 PKR 502

348.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.99 PKR 276

24.24%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-4.40%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

3.68%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$58.7 PKR 16.3K

21.45%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.82 PKR 1,061

266.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$12.95 PKR 3,594

38.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$12.48 PKR 3,465

227.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.08 PKR 1,687

13.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.47 PKR 964

64.84%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$28.69 PKR 7,962

974.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,142 PKR 316.9K

1185.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$16.05 PKR 4,455

247.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$21.67 PKR 6,014

20.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

38.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$26.36 PKR 7,316

169.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

464.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

370.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$166 PKR 46.0K

381.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$106 PKR 29.3K

379.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$915 PKR 253.8K

109.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$500 PKR 138.8K

192.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $74.9 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $85.0 – 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $502 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.69 in Mandi Bahauddin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 186% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $335 in Mandi Bahauddin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandi Bahauddin costs $335 versus $852 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.