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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $449 in Mianwali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $657 in Mianwali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $865 in Mianwali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Mianwali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mianwali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mianwali 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.09 PKR 583

-7.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.90 PKR 3,868

34.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.25 PKR 1,182

84.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 782

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 PKR 1,037

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.29 PKR 638

-14.85%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.21 PKR 57.1

304.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.21 PKR 58.4

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.64 PKR 178

167.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 PKR 171

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.90 PKR 249

26.67%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.21 PKR 335

59.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.03 PKR 1,677

168.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.92 PKR 812

6.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.58 PKR 1,274

137.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.01 PKR 281

172.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.63 PKR 176

92.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.57 PKR 158

184.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.22 PKR 61.2

622.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.36 PKR 98.8

288.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.36 PKR 101

225.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.44 PKR 122

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.38 PKR 107

39.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 298

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.98 PKR 552

136.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 PKR 55.1

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$7.16 PKR 1,991

168.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.69 PKR 191

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.49 PKR 137

163.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.72 PKR 479

355.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.90 PKR 249

41.11%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

21.42%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

-6.24%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$139 PKR 38.6K

-50.28%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.58 PKR 995

293.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$16.98 PKR 4,724

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$12.33 PKR 3,429

233.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.05 PKR 1,684

15.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.37 PKR 1,215

35.47%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$34.38 PKR 9,564

769.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,244 PKR 346.0K

1102.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$15.32 PKR 4,261

257.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$22.60 PKR 6,286

18.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$72.3 PKR 20.1K

17.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$30.15 PKR 8,388

134.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

461.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

353.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$169 PKR 47.1K

373.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$107 PKR 29.9K

379.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$860 PKR 239.2K

129.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$577 PKR 160.5K

155.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

-74.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mianwali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $76.2 in Mianwali. 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 $14.00 in Mianwali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $88.0 – making Mianwali 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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Mianwali, 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 $674 in Mianwali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mianwali, 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 $34.38 in Mianwali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 181% 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 $449 in Mianwali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mianwali costs $449 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 Mianwali. 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.