🙂A single person spends $456 per month in Mianwali vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $665 per month in Mianwali vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $874 per month in Mianwali vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mianwali is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mianwali and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mianwali66% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 585
$1.96฿65.8
7.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.07PKR 3,906
$18.35฿617
-23.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.28PKR 1,189
$7.48฿252
-42.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87PKR 798
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75PKR 1,041
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.35PKR 652
$2.02฿67.8
16.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 54.6
$0.85฿28.50
-76.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.2
$0.36฿11.96
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67PKR 185
$1.65฿55.5
-59.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$1.57฿52.7
-63.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90PKR 249
$1.19฿40.02
-24.37%
Eggs
$1.17PKR 326
$1.94฿65.1
-39.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11PKR 1,696
$16.19฿544
-62.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92PKR 811
$2.99฿101
-2.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.42PKR 1,227
$10.94฿368
-59.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 282
$2.71฿91.2
-62.36%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$1.17฿39.25
-48.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.69฿56.7
-64.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$1.60฿54.0
-86.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 97.6
$1.38฿46.54
-74.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.20฿40.45
-70.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45PKR 125
$0.67฿22.50
-32.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.56฿18.73
-32.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.05PKR 291
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51PKR 142
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 308
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89PKR 525
$4.64฿156
-59.27%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 44.36
$0.88฿29.68
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.15PKR 1,986
$19.34฿650
-63.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 203
$1.36฿45.90
-46.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 148
$1.34฿44.98
-60.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 504
$8.21฿276
-77.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 252
$1.22฿41.18
-25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$21.4K฿718.1K
-18.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
$22.5K฿757.7K
3.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141PKR 39.1K
$70.7฿2,376
99.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63PKR 1,009
$14.04฿472
-74.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.00PKR 4,721
$17.49฿588
-2.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.23PKR 3,396
$42.15฿1,417
-70.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86PKR 1,626
$6.88฿231
-14.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,171
$5.92฿199
-28.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.40PKR 9,829
$309฿10.4K
-88.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,233PKR 342.5K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-91.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.97PKR 4,156
$55.8฿1,875
-73.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.37PKR 6,490
$26.11฿878
-10.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8PKR 20.2K
$83.0฿2,792
-12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.12PKR 8,364
$70.5฿2,369
-57.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$74.7PKR 20.8K
$432฿14.5K
-82.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.3PKR 14.2K
$239฿8,035
-78.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164PKR 45.4K
$822฿27.7K
-80.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$105PKR 29.1K
$512฿17.2K
-79.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$858PKR 238.1K
$1,915฿64.4K
-55.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$412PKR 114.4K
$1,467฿49.3K
-71.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mianwali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
5
297.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mianwali: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $74.7 in Mianwali 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mianwali versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $243 – making Mianwali 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
Mianwali vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mianwali or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Mianwali, 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 Mianwali and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Mianwali and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mianwali or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mianwali, 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 Mianwali and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $35.40 per month in Mianwali and $309 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 Mianwali or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 179% 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 Mianwali or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $456 in Mianwali and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mianwali or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mianwali costs $456 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mianwali 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 Mianwali or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Mianwali. 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.