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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $475 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $701 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $927 in Nawabshah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 96% more than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nawabshah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Nawabshah 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.12 PKR 587

-1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$13.41 PKR 3,715

46.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.34 PKR 1,479

6.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 PKR 1,943

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.23 PKR 617

-18.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.39 PKR 107

97.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.24 PKR 66.1

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.85 PKR 235

141.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.56 PKR 154

169.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.20 PKR 331

16.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.22 PKR 339

85.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$6.25 PKR 1,730

159.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.05 PKR 844

-4.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.07 PKR 1,681

55.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.22 PKR 338

119.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.60 PKR 165

81.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.03 PKR 285

57.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.56 PKR 154

160.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.34 PKR 94.5

276.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.31 PKR 85.6

241.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.36 PKR 101

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.44 PKR 121

20.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 341

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 PKR 375

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 665

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.82 PKR 505

132.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.16 PKR 45.17

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$9.07 PKR 2,512

492.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.73 PKR 203

60.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.69 PKR 192

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.11 PKR 584

13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.28 PKR 355

13.28%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

17.90%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

-0.87%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$109 PKR 30.2K

-41.68%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.82 PKR 1,613

121.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$13.40 PKR 3,711

53.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$13.49 PKR 3,736

189.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.37 PKR 1,210

50.57%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$49.92 PKR 13.8K

1470.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,599 PKR 442.9K

817.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$15.42 PKR 4,272

257.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$21.92 PKR 6,072

12.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$69.6 PKR 19.3K

35.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$38.71 PKR 10.7K

91.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$126 PKR 34.8K

289.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$78.0 PKR 21.6K

269.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$258 PKR 71.4K

246.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$150 PKR 41.4K

248.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$965 PKR 267.3K

104.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$443 PKR 122.8K

225.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$126 PKR 34.9K

377.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.88

-56.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 377% 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 $13.00 in Nawabshah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $101 – 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 96% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $712 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $49.92 in Nawabshah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 139% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nawabshah, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Nawabshah 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. Nawabshah costs $475 versus $932 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.