🙂A single person spends $391 per month in Mehar vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $589 per month in Mehar vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $786 per month in Mehar vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mehar is about 54% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mehar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mehar71% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81PKR 502
$2.03฿68.4
-10.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63PKR 2,953
$18.71฿631
-43.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.01PKR 1,114
$7.84฿264
-48.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74PKR 483
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49PKR 969
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.43PKR 397
$1.93฿65.0
-25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.83฿28.01
-62.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.35฿11.81
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.22฿74.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿128
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75PKR 209
$1.65฿55.5
-54.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.55฿52.3
-61.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 335
$1.18฿39.82
2.54%
Eggs
$1.13PKR 313
$2.01฿67.9
-43.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.90PKR 1,639
$16.16฿545
-63.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59PKR 718
$3.03฿102
-14.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.63PKR 1,009
$10.84฿365
-66.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$2.68฿90.3
-62.31%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 179
$1.22฿41.16
-47.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63PKR 174
$1.63฿54.8
-61.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$1.53฿51.5
-66.01%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 95.0
$1.34฿45.13
-74.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 141
$1.21฿40.88
-57.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.2
$0.70฿23.65
-51.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.53฿17.71
-30.19%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.33PKR 369
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87PKR 241
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04PKR 567
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92PKR 534
$4.69฿158
-59.06%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.71฿597
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.85฿62.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.21฿108
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.0
$0.89฿30.03
-78.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.05PKR 1,957
$18.76฿632
-62.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 254
$1.41฿47.43
-34.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40PKR 111
$1.29฿43.54
-68.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73PKR 479
$7.79฿263
-77.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 249
$1.29฿43.61
-30.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
$21.8K฿733.8K
-2.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KPKR 6.3M
$21.7K฿731.2K
4.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.5K
$70.0฿2,359
46.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.94PKR 1,095
$14.19฿478
-72.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.98PKR 3,882
$17.42฿587
-19.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.18PKR 3,381
$41.64฿1,404
-70.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.88PKR 1,633
$6.89฿232
-14.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44PKR 956
$5.78฿195
-40.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$29.49PKR 8,186
$300฿10.1K
-90.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,128PKR 313.2K
$14.5K฿489.5K
-92.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.46PKR 4,293
$55.4฿1,866
-72.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.26PKR 6,180
$26.31฿887
-15.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.4PKR 19.5K
$84.8฿2,860
-17.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.10PKR 8,080
$70.5฿2,376
-58.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.2PKR 20.9K
$425฿14.3K
-82.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.4PKR 14.3K
$235฿7,924
-78.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 45.9K
$802฿27.0K
-79.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$104PKR 28.9K
$516฿17.4K
-79.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$787PKR 218.5K
$1,926฿64.9K
-59.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$434PKR 120.6K
$1,451฿48.9K
-70.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mehar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$109PKR 30.3K
$586฿19.8K
-81.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19
5
280.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 in Mehar versus $425 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 438% 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 $11.00 in Mehar versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $242 – making Mehar 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
Mehar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mehar or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Mehar, 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 Mehar and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $586 per month in Mehar and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mehar or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mehar, 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 Mehar and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $29.49 per month in Mehar and $300 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 Mehar or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 181% 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 $800/month in Mehar or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $391 in Mehar and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mehar or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mehar costs $391 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mehar 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 Mehar or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Mehar. 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.