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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $364 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $557 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $749 in Sahiwal, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sahiwal 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.81 PKR 503

9.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.51 PKR 2,923

78.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.19 PKR 1,166

84.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 710

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 PKR 1,047

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.73 PKR 481

10.98%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.33 PKR 91.6

139.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.19 PKR 54.1

89.47%

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

$0.63 PKR 176

161.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.41 PKR 114

297.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.12 PKR 311

6.25%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.15 PKR 321

73.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.09 PKR 1,692

162.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.05 PKR 847

-0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.39 PKR 1,222

147.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.03 PKR 286

167.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.64 PKR 178

84.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.36 PKR 101

355.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.45 PKR 125

237.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.32 PKR 90.1

331.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.49 PKR 136

142.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.47 PKR 131

48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.33 PKR 93.0

69.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 310

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.93 PKR 537

137.31%

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

$0.18 PKR 50.7

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$7.05 PKR 1,959

165.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.74 PKR 207

83.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.49 PKR 136

173.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.73 PKR 482

353.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.90 PKR 251

36.67%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

21.39%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

-3.41%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

-1.14%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.47 PKR 1,520

150.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$17.54 PKR 4,877

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$12.32 PKR 3,426

235.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.81 PKR 1,616

19.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.55 PKR 988

62.54%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$17.89 PKR 4,974

1616.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,244 PKR 345.9K

1074.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$13.90 PKR 3,864

301.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$12.25 PKR 3,407

113.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$73.5 PKR 20.4K

16.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$28.62 PKR 7,958

152.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$74.6 PKR 20.7K

475.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

365.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$166 PKR 46.2K

391.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$107 PKR 29.7K

378.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$816 PKR 227.0K

142.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$511 PKR 142.1K

190.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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 Sahiwal: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $74.6 in Sahiwal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $87.0 – making Sahiwal 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 Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Sahiwal, 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 $546 in Sahiwal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sahiwal, 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 $17.89 in Sahiwal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 178% 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 $364 in Sahiwal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sahiwal costs $364 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 Sahiwal. 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.