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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $438 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $635 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $831 in Nawabshah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nawabshah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Nawabshah 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.5

$2.08 PKR 579

-2.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿631

$12.43 PKR 3,450

50.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿265

$4.07 PKR 1,129

92.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 PKR 531

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 PKR 1,437

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿65.0

$1.82 PKR 506

6.04%

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

$0.83 ฿28.05

$0.36 PKR 100

130.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.82

$0.21 PKR 58.2

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.70 PKR 194

135.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.4

$0.33 PKR 92.7

369.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.86

$1.17 PKR 325

0.85%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿68.0

$0.99 PKR 274

103.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿545

$6.34 PKR 1,759

154.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$2.19 PKR 607

38.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿366

$3.62 PKR 1,005

199.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.4

$1.09 PKR 302

145.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.21

$0.46 PKR 128

165.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$0.75 PKR 207

117.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.28 PKR 78.5

446.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.18

$0.28 PKR 78.3

378.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.93

$0.51 PKR 142

137.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.67

$0.36 PKR 99.7

94.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.73

$0.40 PKR 112

32.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 359

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PKR 355

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 596

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$1.66 PKR 461

182.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿598

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.07

$0.17 PKR 46.80

423.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

$7.11 PKR 1,974

163.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.48

$0.72 PKR 201

95.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$0.65 PKR 181

98.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿263

$1.75 PKR 487

345.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.67

$0.87 PKR 243

48.28%

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

$21.8K ฿734.7K

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

30.21%

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

$21.7K ฿732.1K

$24.7K PKR 6.9M

-12.13%

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

$70.0 ฿2,362

$133 PKR 36.9K

-47.30%

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

$14.19 ฿479

$5.01 PKR 1,390

183.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿588

$13.54 PKR 3,760

28.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,405

$12.16 PKR 3,377

242.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

$5.89 PKR 1,636

16.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$4.33 PKR 1,201

33.49%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$57.0 PKR 15.8K

425.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿490.1K

$1,354 PKR 375.8K

972.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,869

$17.68 PKR 4,909

213.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿888

$25.48 PKR 7,074

3.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,863

$63.7 PKR 17.7K

33.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,379

$35.63 PKR 9,891

97.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.4K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

465.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,933

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

346.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.1K

$169 PKR 46.8K

375.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$108 PKR 30.0K

376.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿65.0K

$852 PKR 236.4K

126.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿49.0K

$510 PKR 141.6K

184.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$128 PKR 35.4K

359.25%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $75.1 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 359% 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: $242 vs $80.0 – 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 93% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $658 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 $300 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 201% 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 $847 in Chiang Mai and $438 in Nawabshah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nawabshah costs $438 versus $847 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.