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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Faisalabad vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $540 per month in Faisalabad vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $730 per month in Faisalabad vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Faisalabad is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Faisalabad and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Faisalabad 74% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 483

$1.94 ฿63.6

-10.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,990

$18.64 ฿609

-42.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 PKR 990

$7.82 ฿256

-54.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PKR 784

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 PKR 1,310

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 418

$1.95 ฿63.9

-23.08%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.85 ฿27.80

-61.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.35 ฿11.60

-37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 213

$1.71 ฿56.0

-55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 PKR 178

$1.63 ฿53.3

-60.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.14 ฿37.18

11.40%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.93 ฿63.2

-40.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 PKR 1,974

$16.21 ฿530

-56.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 734

$3.12 ฿102

-15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 872

$10.90 ฿356

-71.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 284

$2.75 ฿90.1

-62.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$1.21 ฿39.56

-54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$1.62 ฿53.0

-58.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.59 ฿51.9

-67.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$1.40 ฿45.75

-73.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$1.17 ฿38.20

-52.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.66 ฿21.62

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.53 ฿17.24

-24.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 272

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 956

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 514

$4.69 ฿153

-60.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.99

$0.90 ฿29.28

-81.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.47 PKR 964

$19.21 ฿628

-81.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.41 ฿45.96

-22.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 102

$1.29 ฿42.16

-71.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 480

$7.84 ฿256

-78.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$1.27 ฿41.62

-24.41%

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

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

$21.3K ฿695.5K

2.43%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$22.2K ฿726.1K

-3.92%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.1K

$69.1 ฿2,258

-16.40%

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

$3.75 PKR 1,042

$14.08 ฿460

-73.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,604

$18.00 ฿588

-28.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.85 PKR 4,130

$41.06 ฿1,342

-63.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,994

$6.96 ฿227

54.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 PKR 974

$5.92 ฿193

-40.88%

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

$28.40 PKR 7,899

$299 ฿9,775

-90.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,119 PKR 311.3K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-92.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,435

$54.7 ฿1,788

-70.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.28 PKR 6,198

$26.77 ฿875

-16.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

$85.0 ฿2,778

-28.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.64 PKR 7,134

$70.6 ฿2,308

-63.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.6 PKR 19.6K

$428 ฿14.0K

-83.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$47.75 PKR 13.3K

$237 ฿7,759

-79.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.7K

$801 ฿26.2K

-81.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$515 ฿16.9K

-79.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$537 PKR 149.4K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-72.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$256 PKR 71.3K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-82.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$194 PKR 53.9K

$617 ฿20.2K

-68.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

260.00%

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

Last update for Faisalabad: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $70.6 in Faisalabad versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 219% 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 $11.00 in Faisalabad versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91.0 vs $246 – making Faisalabad 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

Faisalabad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 148% more than Faisalabad, 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 $524 per month in Faisalabad and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $28.40 per month in Faisalabad and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 171% 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 $350 in Faisalabad and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Faisalabad costs $350 versus $866 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 Faisalabad. 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.