🙂A single person spends $368 per month in Jhang vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $584 per month in Jhang vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $800 per month in Jhang vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Jhang is about 57% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jhang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jhang72% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74PKR 486
$1.96฿63.6
-11.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.28PKR 3,987
$18.81฿611
-24.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48PKR 970
$7.92฿258
-56.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 777
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72PKR 1,040
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.30PKR 641
$1.91฿62.2
20.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 91.2
$0.84฿27.25
-60.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.35฿11.44
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿71.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.80฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.58PKR 161
$1.64฿53.2
-64.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 172
$1.62฿52.8
-61.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 340
$1.18฿38.40
3.39%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 301
$2.01฿65.4
-46.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.89PKR 1,643
$15.89฿517
-62.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08PKR 859
$3.01฿98.0
2.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.59PKR 1,281
$10.77฿350
-57.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 286
$2.61฿85.0
-60.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.22฿39.65
-50.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 169
$1.70฿55.4
-64.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45PKR 125
$1.58฿51.2
-71.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 98.0
$1.32฿42.89
-73.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$1.17฿38.01
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.67฿21.85
-28.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.56฿18.21
-35.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.70PKR 195
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51PKR 141
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12PKR 313
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.83PKR 231
$4.53฿147
-81.68%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿592
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿105
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 48.27
$0.89฿28.83
-80.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17PKR 2,000
$19.38฿630
-63.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 194
$1.35฿43.95
-48.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 147
$1.35฿43.79
-60.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.76PKR 491
$8.25฿268
-78.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82PKR 229
$1.27฿41.40
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KPKR 4.8M
$21.2K฿687.8K
-18.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.4M
$22.5K฿731.0K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9PKR 19.8K
$70.2฿2,281
1.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,113
$13.77฿448
-71.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.42PKR 2,908
$17.60฿572
-40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.36PKR 3,450
$41.57฿1,352
-70.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99PKR 1,672
$6.60฿215
-9.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65PKR 1,017
$5.78฿188
-36.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$15.82PKR 4,415
$306฿9,953
-94.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,230PKR 343.4K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-91.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.43PKR 4,307
$54.4฿1,768
-71.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.52PKR 6,008
$26.14฿850
-17.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0PKR 20.6K
$84.5฿2,748
-12.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.07PKR 8,394
$69.4฿2,257
-56.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.0PKR 21.2K
$424฿13.8K
-82.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.8PKR 14.7K
$238฿7,743
-77.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167PKR 46.5K
$825฿26.8K
-79.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.9K
$515฿16.7K
-79.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$798PKR 222.7K
$2,049฿66.6K
-61.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$581PKR 162.1K
$1,523฿49.5K
-61.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$144PKR 40.2K
$635฿20.6K
-77.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
5
260.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jhang: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.0 in Jhang versus $424 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 341% 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 $14.00 in Jhang versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $90.0 vs $243 – making Jhang 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
Jhang vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jhang or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 131% more than Jhang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jhang vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $553 per month in Jhang and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jhang or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jhang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Jhang and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $15.82 per month in Jhang and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jhang or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 172% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jhang or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $368 in Jhang and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jhang or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jhang costs $368 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jhang compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Jhang or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Jhang. 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.