Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rahim Yar Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rahim Yar Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $452 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $658 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $863 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 106% more than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$1.46 PKR 405

42.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$10.89 PKR 3,018

80.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.58 PKR 1,269

23.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 PKR 738

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,445

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$0.88 PKR 244

105.68%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.30 PKR 83.3

156.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.18 PKR 51.0

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.68 PKR 189

201.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.43 PKR 119

251.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.71 PKR 197

97.18%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.10 PKR 305

105.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.20 PKR 887

405.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.47 PKR 684

17.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.36 PKR 1,209

116.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$0.46 PKR 129

482.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$0.34 PKR 95.2

220.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.53 PKR 146

205.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.34 PKR 95.2

329.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.35 PKR 96.8

265.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.28 PKR 77.8

278.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.19 PKR 52.2

278.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.29 PKR 81.0

82.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.88 PKR 522

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 PKR 818

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.15 PKR 596

96.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.10 PKR 27.96

780.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.75 PKR 209

56.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.37 PKR 103

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$2.21 PKR 613

8.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.05 PKR 290

38.10%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-16.00%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

14.50%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$142 PKR 39.4K

-55.28%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$4.95 PKR 1,371

160.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$14.25 PKR 3,946

44.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$9.74 PKR 2,697

300.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$18.00 PKR 4,985

-78.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.45 PKR 1,232

47.87%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$19.58 PKR 5,423

3903.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,026 PKR 284.1K

1330.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$10.85 PKR 3,006

407.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$18.21 PKR 5,044

35.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$94.3 PKR 26.1K

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$25.50 PKR 7,062

190.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$124 PKR 34.3K

295.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$91.1 PKR 25.2K

216.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$271 PKR 75.0K

229.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$178 PKR 49.4K

192.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$546 PKR 151.3K

261.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$458 PKR 126.8K

215.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$88.6 PKR 24.6K

578.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.5

-55.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Rahim Yar Khan. 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 579% 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 $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $67.0 – making Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 106% more than Rahim Yar Khan, 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 $679 in Rahim Yar Khan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 257% 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 Rahim Yar Khan, where all-in costs run around $452, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Rahim Yar Khan 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. Rahim Yar Khan costs $452 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 Rahim Yar Khan. 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.