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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $447 in Sargodha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $667 in Sargodha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $887 in Sargodha, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Sargodha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sargodha 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.39 PKR 388

41.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$14.24 PKR 3,970

32.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.32 PKR 1,484

48.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 490

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,058

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.98 PKR 552

-3.54%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.42 PKR 118

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.24 PKR 66.9

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.68 PKR 189

141.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.62 PKR 173

161.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.21 PKR 337

-2.48%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.74 PKR 207

171.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.19 PKR 1,725

156.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$1.83 PKR 511

64.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.31 PKR 1,201

149.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.55 PKR 153

374.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.78 PKR 219

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.88 PKR 246

93.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.60 PKR 167

163.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.42 PKR 116

214.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.57 PKR 160

105.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.31 PKR 86.3

116.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.37 PKR 104

51.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.47 PKR 410

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 245

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 547

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.06 PKR 575

119.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.20 PKR 55.5

345.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$7.12 PKR 1,984

172.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.90 PKR 252

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.40 PKR 111

237.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.80 PKR 780

194.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.92 PKR 255

38.04%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-1.62%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-14.61%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$112 PKR 31.3K

-37.47%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.46 PKR 1,522

152.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$18.91 PKR 5,272

-6.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$12.25 PKR 3,416

239.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.86 PKR 1,635

12.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.31 PKR 1,201

34.11%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$61.2 PKR 17.1K

400.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,121 PKR 312.6K

1222.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$21.42 PKR 5,972

153.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.49 PKR 7,663

-4.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$87.0 PKR 24.3K

-2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

69.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

452.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

360.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$166 PKR 46.3K

396.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$107 PKR 29.9K

379.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$795 PKR 221.7K

157.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$563 PKR 156.9K

170.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$182 PKR 50.7K

249.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-64.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sargodha: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $76.6 in Sargodha. 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 249% 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 $14.00 in Sargodha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $84.0 – making Sargodha 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 Sargodha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Sargodha, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $670 in Sargodha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $61.2 in Sargodha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 191% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $447 in Sargodha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sargodha costs $447 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 Sargodha. 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.