🙂A single person spends $406 per month in Multan vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $615 per month in Multan vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $824 per month in Multan vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Multan is about 53% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Multan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Multan70% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07PKR 573
$1.96฿65.7
5.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.62PKR 2,390
$18.35฿616
-53.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16PKR 1,430
$7.48฿251
-31.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75PKR 486
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22PKR 894
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.43PKR 397
$2.02฿67.7
-29.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 84.2
$0.85฿28.45
-64.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.5
$0.36฿11.94
-44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59PKR 163
$1.65฿55.4
-64.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 156
$1.57฿52.6
-64.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05PKR 290
$1.19฿39.95
-11.76%
Eggs
$1.03PKR 285
$1.94฿65.0
-46.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.76PKR 1,321
$16.19฿544
-70.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60PKR 720
$2.99฿100
-13.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.08PKR 855
$10.94฿367
-71.85%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99PKR 274
$2.71฿91.0
-63.47%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68PKR 188
$1.17฿39.18
-41.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 159
$1.69฿56.6
-66.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$1.60฿53.9
-69.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 105
$1.38฿46.45
-72.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40PKR 110
$1.20฿40.38
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60PKR 167
$0.67฿22.46
-10.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 98.6
$0.56฿18.70
-35.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.81PKR 502
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57PKR 435
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83PKR 509
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92PKR 533
$4.64฿156
-58.62%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿591
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.1
$0.88฿29.63
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17PKR 1,989
$19.34฿649
-62.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04PKR 288
$1.36฿45.82
-23.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31PKR 85.1
$1.34฿44.90
-76.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.42PKR 394
$8.21฿276
-82.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PKR 274
$1.22฿41.11
-18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$21.4K฿716.8K
4.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KPKR 6.2M
$22.5K฿756.3K
-0.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105PKR 29.0K
$70.7฿2,372
47.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.92PKR 1,363
$14.04฿471
-64.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.89PKR 3,852
$17.49฿587
-20.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.04PKR 5,002
$42.15฿1,415
-57.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.58PKR 3,490
$6.88฿231
82.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.63PKR 730
$5.92฿199
-55.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.34PKR 10.1K
$309฿10.4K
-88.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,754PKR 486.5K
$14.9K฿499.5K
-88.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.64PKR 4,616
$55.8฿1,872
-70.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.32PKR 7,576
$26.11฿877
4.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2PKR 19.5K
$83.0฿2,787
-15.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.67PKR 8,228
$70.5฿2,365
-57.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$86.9PKR 24.1K
$432฿14.5K
-79.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$57.5PKR 16.0K
$239฿8,020
-75.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$175PKR 48.5K
$822฿27.6K
-78.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125PKR 34.7K
$512฿17.2K
-75.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Multan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$183PKR 50.7K
$579฿19.4K
-68.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.43
5
248.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $86.9 in Multan 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 217% 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 $9.00 in Multan versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $79.0 vs $243 – making Multan 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
Multan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Multan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Multan, 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 Multan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $608 per month in Multan 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, Multan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Multan, 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 Multan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $36.34 per month in Multan 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 Multan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 209% 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 $1,000/month in Multan or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $406 in Multan and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Multan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Multan costs $406 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 Multan 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 Multan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Multan. 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.