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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $406 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $824 in Multan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Multan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$2.07 PKR 573

-5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$8.62 PKR 2,390

112.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$5.16 PKR 1,430

44.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 486

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 PKR 894

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$1.43 PKR 397

41.26%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.30 PKR 84.2

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.20 PKR 55.5

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$0.59 PKR 163

179.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.56 PKR 156

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.05 PKR 290

13.33%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$1.03 PKR 285

88.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.76 PKR 1,321

240.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$2.60 PKR 720

15.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$3.08 PKR 855

255.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$0.99 PKR 274

173.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.68 PKR 188

72.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$0.57 PKR 159

196.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.49 PKR 136

226.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.38 PKR 105

263.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$0.40 PKR 110

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$0.60 PKR 167

11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.36 PKR 98.6

55.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 PKR 509

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.92 PKR 533

141.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.19 PKR 52.1

363.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$7.17 PKR 1,989

169.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$1.04 PKR 288

30.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$0.31 PKR 85.1

332.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.42 PKR 394

478.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$0.99 PKR 274

23.23%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-3.98%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

0.02%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$105 PKR 29.0K

-32.39%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$4.92 PKR 1,363

185.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$13.89 PKR 3,852

25.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$18.04 PKR 5,002

133.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$12.58 PKR 3,490

-45.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.63 PKR 730

125.10%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

749.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$1,754 PKR 486.5K

748.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$16.64 PKR 4,616

235.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$27.32 PKR 7,576

-4.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

18.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$29.67 PKR 8,228

137.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

397.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

315.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$175 PKR 48.5K

370.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$125 PKR 34.7K

308.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$183 PKR 50.7K

216.77%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $86.9 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 217% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Multan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $79.0 – 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 112% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $608 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.34 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $406 in Multan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Multan costs $406 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 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.