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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $498 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $718 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $939 in Okara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Okara 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.52 PKR 698

-17.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$14.23 PKR 3,942

37.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.56 PKR 1,539

1.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 PKR 978

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,508

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.58 PKR 715

-29.84%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.39 PKR 108

97.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.26 PKR 72.6

34.62%

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

$0.62 PKR 172

230.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.67 PKR 186

125.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.16 PKR 323

20.69%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.18 PKR 326

91.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$6.32 PKR 1,751

156.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.53 PKR 702

14.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.95 PKR 1,371

90.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.22 PKR 339

119.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.68 PKR 189

60.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.86 PKR 239

88.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.65 PKR 181

124.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.30 PKR 83.8

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.33 PKR 91.0

221.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.50 PKR 138

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.37 PKR 102

43.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.05 PKR 291

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 479

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.14 PKR 592

97.66%

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

$0.19 PKR 52.9

363.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.14 PKR 2,809

430.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.89 PKR 245

31.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.73 PKR 203

-20.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.77 PKR 491

35.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.93 PKR 256

55.91%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

18.56%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

0.97%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$130 PKR 36.1K

-51.09%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.34 PKR 1,480

141.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$16.58 PKR 4,594

23.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$6.17 PKR 1,708

532.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.25 PKR 1,176

54.82%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$14.66 PKR 4,061

5247.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,987 PKR 550.4K

638.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$17.30 PKR 4,791

218.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$26.97 PKR 7,470

-8.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$75.6 PKR 20.9K

24.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$31.95 PKR 8,851

131.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$127 PKR 35.2K

285.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

268.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$271 PKR 75.0K

229.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$130 PKR 36.0K

300.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$806 PKR 223.3K

144.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$489 PKR 135.3K

195.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$142 PKR 39.4K

322.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.28

-60.99%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Okara: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $127 in Okara. 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 323% 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 $14.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $94.0 – making Okara 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 Okara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Okara, 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 $746 in Okara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Okara, 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 $14.66 in Okara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 157% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okara, where all-in costs run around $498, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Okara 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. Okara costs $498 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 Okara. 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.