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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $497 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $722 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $947 in Sahiwal, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sahiwal 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.56 PKR 709

-17.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$14.38 PKR 3,985

37.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.53 PKR 1,531

4.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 PKR 981

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 PKR 1,492

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.57 PKR 711

-28.79%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.42 PKR 118

85.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.26 PKR 72.3

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.91 PKR 251

123.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.66 PKR 183

142.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.21 PKR 336

17.36%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.23 PKR 341

77.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.47 PKR 1,794

145.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.45 PKR 679

25.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$4.93 PKR 1,365

100.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.21 PKR 335

117.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.66 PKR 184

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.83 PKR 229

96.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.64 PKR 178

139.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.30 PKR 83.5

313.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.32 PKR 89.8

253.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.45 PKR 126

64.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.34 PKR 92.9

47.06%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 305

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 PKR 169

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 477

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.10 PKR 583

103.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.17 PKR 47.60

452.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$9.75 PKR 2,701

467.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.93 PKR 257

32.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.70 PKR 193

-24.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.77 PKR 491

35.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.33 PKR 369

8.27%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

19.34%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

5.21%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$124 PKR 34.4K

-47.72%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$5.20 PKR 1,441

156.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$16.26 PKR 4,504

28.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$15.02 PKR 4,161

169.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.41 PKR 1,221

52.15%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$44.39 PKR 12.3K

1672.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,010 PKR 556.9K

652.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$16.73 PKR 4,634

236.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$24.95 PKR 6,913

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

26.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$29.87 PKR 8,274

151.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$127 PKR 35.1K

282.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

271.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$252 PKR 69.9K

260.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$151 PKR 41.8K

252.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$909 PKR 251.9K

117.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$511 PKR 141.5K

184.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.22

-60.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $127 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $96.0 – 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 91% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $745 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $44.39 in Sahiwal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 153% 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 Sahiwal, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sahiwal 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. Sahiwal costs $497 versus $950 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.