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 $484 per month in Karachi vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Karachi vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Karachi vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Karachi is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karachi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 571

$1.96 ฿65.7

5.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,482

$18.35 ฿616

-31.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,107

$7.48 ฿251

-46.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 536

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.02 ฿67.7

-10.40%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.85 ฿28.45

-61.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.36 ฿11.94

-41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$1.65 ฿55.4

-52.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$1.57 ฿52.6

-63.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.19 ฿39.95

-0.84%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.94 ฿65.0

-40.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,779

$16.19 ฿544

-60.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 866

$2.99 ฿100

4.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,411

$10.94 ฿367

-53.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.71 ฿91.0

-61.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.17 ฿39.18

-48.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.69 ฿56.6

-45.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$1.60 ฿53.9

-64.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.1

$1.38 ฿46.45

-74.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$1.20 ฿40.38

-58.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.6

$0.67 ฿22.46

-46.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.56 ฿18.70

-26.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 598

$4.64 ฿156

-53.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.88 ฿29.63

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,783

$19.34 ฿649

-66.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.36 ฿45.82

-45.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.34 ฿44.90

-54.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 483

$8.21 ฿276

-78.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.22 ฿41.11

-22.95%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

-21.59%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

12.17%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$70.7 ฿2,372

90.12%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,386

$14.04 ฿471

-64.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,684

$17.49 ฿587

-24.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,401

$42.15 ฿1,415

-62.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,979

$6.88 ฿231

108.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,205

$5.92 ฿199

-26.69%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$309 ฿10.4K

-80.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.2K

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-90.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,912

$55.8 ฿1,872

-68.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,153

$26.11 ฿877

-1.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$83.0 ฿2,787

-22.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,940

$70.5 ฿2,365

-49.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$432 ฿14.5K

-72.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$239 ฿8,020

-68.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.5K

$822 ฿27.6K

-61.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$512 ฿17.2K

-64.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.4K

$1,915 ฿64.3K

-51.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.2K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-70.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$579 ฿19.4K

-69.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

256.00%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Karachi versus $432 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 227% 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 $13.00 in Karachi versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $243 – 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 78% 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 $726 per month in Karachi and $1,292 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 $58.8 per month in Karachi and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Karachi and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karachi costs $484 versus $861 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.