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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $430 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $631 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $832 in Nawabshah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nawabshah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Nawabshah 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$2.14 PKR 594

-9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$12.49 PKR 3,476

49.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.99 PKR 1,111

95.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 PKR 1,447

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.84 PKR 512

5.98%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.36 PKR 100

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.21 PKR 58.4

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$0.73 PKR 202

134.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.31 PKR 85.1

425.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.17 PKR 324

-2.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.02 PKR 283

89.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$6.52 PKR 1,814

148.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.19 PKR 608

42.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$3.69 PKR 1,026

195.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.08 PKR 301

154.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$0.43 PKR 120

181.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.69 PKR 191

134.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.28 PKR 78.8

467.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.28 PKR 78.5

400.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.51 PKR 143

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.38 PKR 107

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.40 PKR 112

32.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 343

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 PKR 594

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.66 PKR 461

182.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.18 PKR 50.7

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$7.28 PKR 2,025

163.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.74 PKR 206

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.67 PKR 187

92.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$1.82 PKR 506

330.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.93 PKR 259

36.56%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

30.00%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

-11.23%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$132 PKR 36.8K

-47.81%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$4.89 PKR 1,360

187.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$13.65 PKR 3,797

31.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$12.35 PKR 3,438

232.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$5.78 PKR 1,609

20.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$4.16 PKR 1,158

42.31%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$57.0 PKR 15.9K

424.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$1,377 PKR 383.1K

986.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$17.82 PKR 4,958

206.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$25.09 PKR 6,982

6.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$65.7 PKR 18.3K

29.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$35.56 PKR 9,895

98.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

479.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

355.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$164 PKR 45.7K

387.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$106 PKR 29.6K

384.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$1,008 PKR 280.4K

95.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$530 PKR 147.3K

178.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$128 PKR 35.6K

382.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-71.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $73.9 in Nawabshah. 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 382% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $81.0 – making Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Nawabshah, 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 $644 in Nawabshah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nawabshah, 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 $57.0 in Nawabshah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 204% 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 $430 in Nawabshah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nawabshah costs $430 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 Nawabshah. 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.