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 $392 per month in Jhelum vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Jhelum vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $800 per month in Jhelum vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jhelum is about 59% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jhelum and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jhelum 72% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 495

$2.08 ฿69.2

-13.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.81 PKR 2,995

$19.64 ฿651

-44.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$5.65 ฿188

-6.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 PKR 704

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PKR 615

Cappuccino

$1.52 PKR 421

$1.81 ฿59.9

-16.02%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.71 ฿23.66

-39.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 81.8

$0.32 ฿10.48

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 177

$1.96 ฿65.0

-67.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$1.50 ฿49.83

-59.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.34 ฿44.32

-8.21%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$2.26 ฿75.1

-46.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 713

$16.26 ฿539

-84.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.32 PKR 643

$2.95 ฿98.0

-21.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.72 PKR 754

$9.94 ฿330

-72.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$2.57 ฿85.3

-57.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$1.06 ฿35.04

-66.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.61 ฿53.5

-66.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$1.52 ฿50.4

-69.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.9

$1.27 ฿42.14

-75.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$1.07 ฿35.37

-67.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.72 ฿23.89

-30.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.51 ฿16.87

-17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 154

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PKR 753

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 PKR 645

$4.19 ฿139

-44.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.47

$0.93 ฿30.70

-81.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 PKR 2,424

$53.9 ฿1,787

-83.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$1.23 ฿40.95

-10.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.58 ฿19.13

81.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PKR 781

$2.42 ฿80.4

16.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.41 ฿46.84

-20.57%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$21.4K ฿711.3K

7.71%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$27.3K ฿906.7K

-16.41%

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

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$63.7 ฿2,112

4.95%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$12.85 ฿426

-56.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.61 PKR 4,049

$20.22 ฿671

-27.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 PKR 3,586

$38.74 ฿1,285

-66.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 PKR 2,008

$6.74 ฿223

7.57%

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

$26.69 PKR 7,397

$778 ฿25.8K

-96.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

$14.6K ฿484.6K

-86.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.80 PKR 5,210

$54.3 ฿1,801

-65.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.60 PKR 7,373

$25.45 ฿844

4.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

$94.3 ฿3,129

-42.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.28 PKR 8,392

$73.4 ฿2,436

-58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$490 ฿16.2K

-76.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

$289 ฿9,596

-72.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 PKR 67.3K

$894 ฿29.6K

-72.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$517 ฿17.1K

-70.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$991 PKR 274.5K

$1,955 ฿64.9K

-49.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.1K

$1,477 ฿49.0K

-63.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

5.57

112.39%

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

Last update for Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Jhelum versus $490 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 $11.00 in Jhelum versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $70.0 vs $240 – 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 142% 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 $587 per month in Jhelum and $1,421 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 $26.69 per month in Jhelum and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 241% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jhelum, where all-in costs run around $392, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Jhelum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jhelum costs $392 versus $947 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.