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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $390 in Mehar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $584 in Mehar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $778 in Mehar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mehar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$1.75 PKR 488

10.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$10.59 PKR 2,946

76.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.99 PKR 1,110

95.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 957

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.44 PKR 402

35.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.35 PKR 96.3

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.23 PKR 64.1

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

$0.78 PKR 216

119.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.56 PKR 156

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.17 PKR 326

64.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$6.12 PKR 1,703

164.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.68 PKR 747

16.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$3.77 PKR 1,050

189.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.04 PKR 289

164.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$0.65 PKR 180

86.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.61 PKR 170

165.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.48 PKR 133

231.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.38 PKR 105

268.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.51 PKR 141

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.33 PKR 93.1

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.34 PKR 93.7

55.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.49 PKR 416

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.92 PKR 535

144.27%

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

$0.20 PKR 55.2

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$7.24 PKR 2,013

165.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.91 PKR 255

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.44 PKR 122

193.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$1.82 PKR 507

330.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.91 PKR 253

39.56%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-1.11%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-4.37%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$103 PKR 28.6K

-32.90%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$4.08 PKR 1,136

245.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$13.55 PKR 3,770

32.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$12.53 PKR 3,487

227.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$5.98 PKR 1,665

16.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$3.52 PKR 980

68.18%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$30.10 PKR 8,377

893.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

1227.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$14.93 PKR 4,155

266.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$21.83 PKR 6,076

22.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

21.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$29.41 PKR 8,183

140.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

479.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

366.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$167 PKR 46.6K

378.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$106 PKR 29.5K

386.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

86.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$463 PKR 128.9K

218.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$106 PKR 29.5K

482.99%

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 Mehar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $73.9 in Mehar. 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 483% 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 $11.00 in Mehar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $87.0 – making Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Mehar, 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 $586 in Mehar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mehar, 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 $30.10 in Mehar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 182% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $390 in Mehar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mehar costs $390 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 Mehar. 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.