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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $298 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $443 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $588 in Okara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 186% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.07 PKR 297

90.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$10.75 PKR 2,983

74.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.28 PKR 1,188

83.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 799

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 PKR 504

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.20 PKR 332

69.17%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.35 PKR 98.5

128.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.23 PKR 63.8

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.72 PKR 200

140.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.44 PKR 121

256.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.16 PKR 323

3.45%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.20 PKR 333

64.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$2.19 PKR 608

641.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.26 PKR 626

35.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.25 PKR 903

232.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.05 PKR 293

163.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.51 PKR 140

129.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.40 PKR 110

327.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.48 PKR 133

231.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.35 PKR 98.5

297.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.48 PKR 133

141.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.43 PKR 119

53.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.29 PKR 81.3

79.31%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 296

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 238

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.47 PKR 408

216.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.10 PKR 26.64

810.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$2.78 PKR 770

570.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.74 PKR 205

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.50 PKR 138

168.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.81 PKR 503

348.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.87 PKR 243

41.38%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

22.43%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

-8.09%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$87.0 PKR 24.1K

-17.98%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.11 PKR 863

350.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$10.68 PKR 2,963

67.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$12.61 PKR 3,499

223.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.91 PKR 1,639

16.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.31 PKR 1,197

32.71%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$14.36 PKR 3,986

2046.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,236 PKR 343.1K

1087.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$14.92 PKR 4,140

273.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$21.12 PKR 5,861

23.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$31.97 PKR 8,871

165.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$29.57 PKR 8,206

140.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$28.58 PKR 7,932

1380.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$17.73 PKR 4,919

1267.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

1745.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$32.13 PKR 8,918

1477.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,002 PKR 278.0K

91.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$520 PKR 144.3K

181.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$146 PKR 40.4K

308.35%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Okara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $28.58 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 308% 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: $244 vs $68.0 – 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 186% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $447 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $14.36 in Okara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 258% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $298 in Okara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Okara costs $298 versus $852 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.