🙂A single person spends $373 per month in Jhang vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $585 per month in Jhang vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $797 per month in Jhang vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Jhang is about 56% 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
$1.81PKR 503
$2.04฿68.2
-11.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.17PKR 3,934
$18.71฿624
-24.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46PKR 959
$7.86฿262
-55.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81PKR 780
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63PKR 1,007
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.29PKR 636
$2.03฿67.7
12.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 89.9
$0.80฿26.64
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.0
$0.35฿11.68
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.67฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.57PKR 160
$1.73฿57.6
-67.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61PKR 168
$1.57฿52.4
-61.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 339
$1.20฿39.99
1.67%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 300
$1.97฿65.8
-45.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.95PKR 1,650
$16.23฿541
-63.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97PKR 824
$3.06฿102
-2.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.50PKR 1,248
$10.80฿360
-58.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06PKR 293
$2.77฿92.3
-61.73%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 178
$1.17฿38.94
-45.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.56PKR 157
$1.71฿57.0
-67.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$1.59฿53.2
-69.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.0
$1.39฿46.51
-74.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$1.16฿38.56
-57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 123
$0.66฿22.05
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.52฿17.31
-30.77%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.06PKR 294
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51PKR 140
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10PKR 306
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.78PKR 217
$4.65฿155
-83.23%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.78฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.79฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 56.9
$0.91฿30.27
-76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.13PKR 1,978
$18.64฿622
-61.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 192
$1.41฿47.04
-51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 147
$1.34฿44.70
-60.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.80PKR 499
$8.11฿270
-77.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84PKR 233
$1.23฿41.16
-31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$21.4K฿715.1K
-16.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KPKR 6.5M
$21.8K฿728.0K
6.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.2PKR 19.7K
$71.3฿2,379
-0.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.87PKR 1,073
$14.01฿467
-72.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.76PKR 2,986
$17.93฿598
-39.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.32PKR 3,419
$40.82฿1,362
-69.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.08PKR 1,688
$6.88฿230
-11.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 999
$5.72฿191
-37.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$16.18PKR 4,490
$308฿10.3K
-94.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,250PKR 347.0K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-91.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.94PKR 4,147
$55.8฿1,860
-73.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.55PKR 5,982
$26.04฿869
-17.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3PKR 19.8K
$84.8฿2,829
-15.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.63PKR 8,501
$71.0฿2,368
-56.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$73.7PKR 20.5K
$423฿14.1K
-82.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.6PKR 14.3K
$242฿8,088
-78.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.2K
$797฿26.6K
-78.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106PKR 29.5K
$507฿16.9K
-79.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$873PKR 242.4K
$1,918฿64.0K
-54.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$485PKR 134.5K
$1,464฿48.8K
-66.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$146PKR 40.6K
$595฿19.9K
-75.40%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $73.7 in Jhang versus $423 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 306% 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: $89.0 vs $244 – 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 128% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $560 per month in Jhang and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $16.18 per month in Jhang and $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 174% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $373 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 $373 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 to 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.