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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $414 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $613 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 in Multan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 109% more than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Multan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.18 PKR 606

-11.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$8.58 PKR 2,386

117.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.19 PKR 1,443

50.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 PKR 891

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.43 PKR 398

36.36%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.28 PKR 77.0

203.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.20 PKR 54.9

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.58 PKR 163

194.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.60 PKR 168

171.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.04 PKR 290

9.62%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.08 PKR 300

78.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.93 PKR 1,371

228.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.57 PKR 716

21.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$3.03 PKR 842

259.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.01 PKR 282

172.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.68 PKR 188

77.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.58 PKR 160

179.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.51 PKR 143

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.38 PKR 104

268.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.43 PKR 119

172.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.57 PKR 157

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.36 PKR 99.4

47.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 PKR 515

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 PKR 428

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 PKR 539

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.97 PKR 549

138.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

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 ฿29.28

$0.17 PKR 47.97

429.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$7.26 PKR 2,019

164.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.03 PKR 286

36.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.31 PKR 85.4

316.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.38 PKR 384

468.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.95 PKR 266

33.68%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-5.05%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

1.32%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$103 PKR 28.6K

-32.84%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.84 PKR 1,347

190.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.62 PKR 3,790

32.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$17.96 PKR 4,997

128.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.52 PKR 3,484

-44.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.64 PKR 734

124.24%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$36.00 PKR 10.0K

730.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,755 PKR 488.2K

751.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$16.34 PKR 4,547

234.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$27.87 PKR 7,752

-3.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

19.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$29.24 PKR 8,135

141.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$85.3 PKR 23.7K

401.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$58.6 PKR 16.3K

304.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$178 PKR 49.4K

351.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$126 PKR 34.9K

310.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$180 PKR 50.0K

243.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

-71.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $85.3 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 244% 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 $9.00 in Multan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $80.0 – 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 109% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $621 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.00 in Multan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 209% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $414 in Multan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Multan costs $414 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 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.