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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $521 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Multan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Multan 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$2.59 PKR 717

-19.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿654

$10.91 PKR 3,024

80.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$5.56 PKR 1,540

1.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PKR 733

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.87 PKR 519

-3.21%

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

$0.71 ฿23.75

$0.28 PKR 76.9

153.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.18 PKR 50.9

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.2

$0.71 PKR 197

176.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.52 PKR 144

188.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$1.07 PKR 296

25.23%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.15 PKR 318

96.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿541

$7.24 PKR 2,006

124.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.4

$2.37 PKR 657

24.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿331

$4.27 PKR 1,184

132.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.7

$0.91 PKR 253

182.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.18

$0.48 PKR 132

120.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.7

$0.71 PKR 196

126.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.6

$0.54 PKR 148

181.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.30

$0.39 PKR 109

225.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.51

$0.43 PKR 119

148.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.98

$0.50 PKR 138

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.94

$0.38 PKR 105

34.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 507

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 PKR 804

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿140

$2.20 PKR 610

90.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.82

$0.20 PKR 55.6

365.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

$7.06 PKR 1,957

662.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿41.11

$1.42 PKR 394

-13.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.20

$0.37 PKR 104

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

$0.93 PKR 257

160.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.09 PKR 301

29.36%

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

$21.4K ฿714.1K

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

-14.44%

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

$27.3K ฿910.2K

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

4.20%

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

$63.7 ฿2,120

$144 PKR 39.9K

-55.80%

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

$12.85 ฿428

$4.90 PKR 1,358

162.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿673

$19.48 PKR 5,400

3.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,290

$24.31 PKR 6,738

59.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$3.55 PKR 983

11.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿224

$4.46 PKR 1,236

51.12%

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

$778 ฿25.9K

$41.85 PKR 11.6K

1758.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

$1,010 PKR 279.8K

1347.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,808

$18.34 PKR 5,082

196.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

$18.99 PKR 5,264

34.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,141

$91.8 PKR 25.4K

2.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

$26.07 PKR 7,226

181.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$143 PKR 39.7K

242.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,634

$93.6 PKR 26.0K

209.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.8K

$214 PKR 59.4K

316.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.2K

$147 PKR 40.7K

252.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$186 PKR 51.6K

223.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-57.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Multan: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $143 in Multan. 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 223% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Multan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $89.0 – making Multan 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 Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Multan, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $782 in Multan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $41.85 in Multan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 170% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Multan, where all-in costs run around $521, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Multan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Multan costs $521 versus $947 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 Multan. 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.