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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $295 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $438 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $582 in Okara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 195% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.04 PKR 288

90.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.75 PKR 2,989

74.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.11 PKR 1,144

88.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 805

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 501

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.22 PKR 339

57.38%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.35 PKR 97.9

125.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.23 PKR 64.2

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.73 PKR 204

126.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.40 PKR 111

307.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.21 PKR 336

-1.65%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.16 PKR 323

72.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$2.23 PKR 620

616.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.36 PKR 656

28.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$3.19 PKR 888

240.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.05 PKR 293

162.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.55 PKR 153

114.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.42 PKR 118

290.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.45 PKR 125

237.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.36 PKR 98.8

283.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.52 PKR 146

128.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.43 PKR 119

62.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.29 PKR 80.8

93.10%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 PKR 257

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.53 PKR 425

199.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.12 PKR 33.14

633.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$2.85 PKR 793

556.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.69 PKR 192

97.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.53 PKR 146

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.73 PKR 481

353.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.91 PKR 253

35.16%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

22.01%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

-4.00%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$90.2 PKR 25.1K

-21.76%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.10 PKR 861

341.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$10.65 PKR 2,961

63.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$12.63 PKR 3,511

227.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.05 PKR 1,682

15.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.30 PKR 1,195

34.19%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$14.01 PKR 3,896

2091.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,239 PKR 344.6K

1078.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$15.26 PKR 4,243

265.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$20.82 PKR 5,788

25.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$31.73 PKR 8,821

170.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$30.48 PKR 8,474

137.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$28.65 PKR 7,966

1399.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$17.41 PKR 4,839

1270.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$41.87 PKR 11.6K

1851.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$32.08 PKR 8,919

1492.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,004 PKR 279.2K

97.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$515 PKR 143.3K

187.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$145 PKR 40.3K

327.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

-74.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Okara: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $28.65 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 327% 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 $11.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $69.0 – 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 195% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $442 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $14.01 in Okara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 251% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $295 in Okara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Okara costs $295 versus $869 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.