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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Karachi vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $728 per month in Karachi vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $999 per month in Karachi vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Karachi is about 52% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karachi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 67% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$2.08 ฿69.4

5.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$19.64 ฿654

-27.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.65 ฿188

-6.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.81 ฿60.1

21.55%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.71 ฿23.75

-53.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.32 ฿10.52

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$1.96 ฿65.2

-54.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$1.50 ฿50.0

-65.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.34 ฿44.49

-7.46%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$2.26 ฿75.4

-46.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$16.26 ฿541

-61.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.95 ฿98.4

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$9.94 ฿331

-38.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$2.57 ฿85.7

-52.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$1.06 ฿35.18

-48.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.61 ฿53.7

-39.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$1.52 ฿50.6

-61.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$1.27 ฿42.30

-73.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$1.07 ฿35.51

-71.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.72 ฿23.98

-45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.51 ฿16.94

-15.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$4.19 ฿140

-57.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.93 ฿30.82

-69.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$53.9 ฿1,794

-84.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.23 ฿41.11

-39.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.58 ฿19.20

20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.42 ฿80.7

-9.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.41 ฿47.03

-5.67%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.4K ฿714.1K

-15.83%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$27.3K ฿910.2K

0.87%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$63.7 ฿2,120

63.00%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$12.85 ฿428

-54.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,564

$20.22 ฿673

-36.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,632

$38.74 ฿1,290

-47.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

$3.97 ฿132

370.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$6.74 ฿224

-34.72%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$778 ฿25.9K

-93.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

$14.6K ฿486.5K

-90.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$54.3 ฿1,808

-72.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,070

$25.45 ฿847

-13.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$94.3 ฿3,141

-30.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,925

$73.4 ฿2,446

-51.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$490 ฿16.3K

-77.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$289 ฿9,634

-75.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$894 ฿29.8K

-66.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$517 ฿17.2K

-65.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.6K

$1,955 ฿65.1K

-50.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.5K

$1,477 ฿49.2K

-68.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$602 ฿20.0K

-69.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

5.57

131.24%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Karachi 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.

Salaries run about 231% 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 Karachi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $240 – making Karachi 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 107% more than Karachi, 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 $685 per month in Karachi 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 Karachi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $50.4 per month in Karachi 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 139% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karachi, where all-in costs run around $457, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Karachi 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. Karachi costs $457 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 Karachi. 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.