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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $325 per month in Jhelum vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $512 per month in Jhelum vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $700 per month in Jhelum vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jhelum is about 63% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jhelum and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jhelum 76% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.94 ฿63.6

-8.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.47 PKR 2,911

$18.64 ฿609

-43.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$7.82 ฿256

-54.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 806

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 PKR 1,363

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 419

$1.95 ฿63.9

-22.56%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.85 ฿27.80

-61.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.35 ฿11.60

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.71 ฿56.0

-67.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$1.63 ฿53.3

-63.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.14 ฿37.18

10.53%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.93 ฿63.2

-40.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,408

$16.21 ฿530

-68.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 662

$3.12 ฿102

-23.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 854

$10.90 ฿356

-71.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.75 ฿90.1

-62.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.21 ฿39.56

-55.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$1.62 ฿53.0

-61.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.59 ฿51.9

-67.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.9

$1.40 ฿45.75

-75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.17 ฿38.20

-52.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.19 PKR 51.5

$0.66 ฿21.62

-71.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.53 ฿17.24

-58.49%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 282

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 550

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.84 PKR 235

$4.69 ฿153

-82.09%

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)

$0.18 PKR 51.0

$0.90 ฿29.28

-80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,924

$19.21 ฿628

-63.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 299

$1.41 ฿45.96

-24.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 148

$1.29 ฿42.16

-58.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$7.84 ฿256

-77.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$1.27 ฿41.62

-23.62%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$21.3K ฿695.5K

4.43%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$22.2K ฿726.1K

-6.22%

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

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$69.1 ฿2,258

-23.38%

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

$2.87 PKR 799

$14.08 ฿460

-79.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.02 PKR 3,623

$18.00 ฿588

-27.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,500

$41.06 ฿1,342

-69.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,628

$6.96 ฿227

-15.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 957

$5.92 ฿193

-41.89%

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

$17.79 PKR 4,950

$299 ฿9,775

-94.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-92.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,498

$54.7 ฿1,788

-70.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 PKR 6,210

$26.77 ฿875

-16.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$85.0 ฿2,778

-29.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.22 PKR 7,294

$70.6 ฿2,308

-62.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

$428 ฿14.0K

-82.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$237 ฿7,759

-77.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$801 ฿26.2K

-79.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$515 ฿16.9K

-79.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$851 PKR 236.6K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-56.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$454 PKR 126.3K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-69.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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 Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.5 in Jhelum 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Jhelum versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $76.0 vs $246 – making Jhelum 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 167% more than Jhelum, 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 $487 per month in Jhelum 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 Jhelum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $17.79 per month in Jhelum 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 222% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $325 in Jhelum and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jhelum costs $325 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 Jhelum. 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.