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 $433 in Sargodha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $657 in Sargodha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $880 in Sargodha, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 97% 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.43 PKR 396

42.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$14.03 PKR 3,893

33.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.26 PKR 1,459

49.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 PKR 1,049

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.00 PKR 555

1.50%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.40 PKR 110

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.24 PKR 66.8

45.83%

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

$0.68 PKR 188

154.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.62 PKR 172

153.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.25 PKR 347

-4.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.69 PKR 192

185.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.35 PKR 1,763

155.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$1.90 PKR 527

61.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.56 PKR 1,264

136.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.54 PKR 151

412.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.84 PKR 234

39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.96 PKR 267

78.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.61 PKR 169

160.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.39 PKR 108

256.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.53 PKR 148

118.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.30 PKR 84.5

120.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.37 PKR 104

40.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 394

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 544

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.18 PKR 604

113.30%

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

$0.18 PKR 49.23

405.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$7.17 PKR 1,989

159.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.84 PKR 234

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.44 PKR 122

204.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.89 PKR 802

180.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.97 PKR 270

26.80%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

2.84%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

-18.27%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$113 PKR 31.2K

-36.64%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$5.48 PKR 1,520

155.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$18.50 PKR 5,134

-3.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$12.30 PKR 3,414

231.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.97 PKR 1,658

15.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.20 PKR 1,165

36.19%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

421.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,098 PKR 304.7K

1237.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$21.84 PKR 6,061

155.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$27.99 PKR 7,767

-6.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$87.3 PKR 24.2K

-2.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$40.86 PKR 11.3K

73.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

466.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$51.9 PKR 14.4K

367.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$170 PKR 47.2K

368.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$106 PKR 29.5K

377.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$895 PKR 248.4K

114.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$487 PKR 135.3K

200.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$181 PKR 50.1K

229.63%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sargodha: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $74.7 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 230% 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: $244 vs $86.0 – 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 97% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $649 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $59.1 in Sargodha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 185% 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 $433 in Sargodha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sargodha costs $433 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.