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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $456 in Mianwali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $665 in Mianwali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $874 in Mianwali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Mianwali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mianwali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Mianwali 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.11 PKR 585

-7.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$14.07 PKR 3,906

30.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.28 PKR 1,189

74.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 798

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 PKR 1,041

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.35 PKR 652

-14.04%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.20 PKR 54.6

325.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.21 PKR 58.2

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.67 PKR 185

146.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.57 PKR 158

175.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.90 PKR 249

32.22%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.17 PKR 326

65.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$6.11 PKR 1,696

164.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.92 PKR 811

2.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.42 PKR 1,227

147.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.02 PKR 282

165.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.60 PKR 166

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.60 PKR 168

181.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.22 PKR 61.2

627.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.35 PKR 97.6

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.36 PKR 101

233.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.45 PKR 125

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.38 PKR 106

47.37%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.05 PKR 291

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 142

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 308

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.89 PKR 525

145.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.16 PKR 44.36

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$7.15 PKR 1,986

170.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.73 PKR 203

86.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.53 PKR 148

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.82 PKR 504

351.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.91 PKR 252

34.07%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

22.64%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

-2.99%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$141 PKR 39.1K

-49.78%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.63 PKR 1,009

286.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$17.00 PKR 4,721

2.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$12.23 PKR 3,396

244.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$5.86 PKR 1,626

17.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.22 PKR 1,171

40.28%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$35.40 PKR 9,829

771.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,233 PKR 342.5K

1106.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$14.97 PKR 4,156

272.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$23.37 PKR 6,490

11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$72.8 PKR 20.2K

14.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$30.12 PKR 8,364

133.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$74.7 PKR 20.8K

478.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

365.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$164 PKR 45.4K

402.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$105 PKR 29.1K

388.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$858 PKR 238.1K

123.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$412 PKR 114.4K

256.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mianwali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $74.7 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Mianwali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $87.0 – 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 89% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $685 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $35.40 in Mianwali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 179% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $456 in Mianwali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mianwali costs $456 versus $861 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.