🙂A single person spends $438 per month in Nawabshah vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $635 per month in Nawabshah vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $831 per month in Nawabshah vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nawabshah is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Nawabshah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nawabshah67% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08PKR 579
$2.03฿68.4
2.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43PKR 3,450
$18.71฿631
-33.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.07PKR 1,129
$7.84฿264
-48.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91PKR 531
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18PKR 1,437
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.82PKR 506
$1.93฿65.0
-5.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.83฿28.01
-56.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.2
$0.35฿11.81
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.22฿74.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿128
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70PKR 194
$1.65฿55.5
-57.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33PKR 92.7
$1.55฿52.3
-78.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 325
$1.18฿39.82
-0.85%
Eggs
$0.99PKR 274
$2.01฿67.9
-50.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.34PKR 1,759
$16.16฿545
-60.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.19PKR 607
$3.03฿102
-27.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.62PKR 1,005
$10.84฿365
-66.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09PKR 302
$2.68฿90.3
-59.33%
Banana(1kg)
$0.46PKR 128
$1.22฿41.16
-62.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75PKR 207
$1.63฿54.8
-53.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.28PKR 78.5
$1.53฿51.5
-81.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.28PKR 78.3
$1.34฿45.13
-79.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 142
$1.21฿40.88
-57.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36PKR 99.7
$0.70฿23.65
-48.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.53฿17.71
-24.53%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.29PKR 359
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28PKR 355
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15PKR 596
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66PKR 461
$4.69฿158
-64.61%
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
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.80
$0.89฿30.03
-80.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.11PKR 1,974
$18.76฿632
-62.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72PKR 201
$1.41฿47.43
-48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 181
$1.29฿43.54
-49.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.75PKR 487
$7.79฿263
-77.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87PKR 243
$1.29฿43.61
-32.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KPKR 4.6M
$21.8K฿733.8K
-23.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KPKR 6.9M
$21.7K฿731.2K
13.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133PKR 36.9K
$70.0฿2,359
89.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.01PKR 1,390
$14.19฿478
-64.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54PKR 3,760
$17.42฿587
-22.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.16PKR 3,377
$41.64฿1,404
-70.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.89PKR 1,636
$6.89฿232
-14.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33PKR 1,202
$5.78฿195
-25.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.0PKR 15.8K
$300฿10.1K
-80.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,354PKR 375.8K
$14.5K฿489.5K
-90.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.68PKR 4,909
$55.4฿1,866
-68.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.48PKR 7,074
$26.31฿887
-3.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.7PKR 17.7K
$84.8฿2,860
-24.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.63PKR 9,891
$70.5฿2,376
-49.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.1PKR 20.9K
$425฿14.3K
-82.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.7PKR 14.6K
$235฿7,924
-77.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$169PKR 46.8K
$802฿27.0K
-78.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 30.0K
$516฿17.4K
-79.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$852PKR 236.4K
$1,926฿64.9K
-55.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$510PKR 141.6K
$1,451฿48.9K
-64.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$128PKR 35.4K
$586฿19.8K
-78.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.8
5
256.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nawabshah: July 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.1 in Nawabshah 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 359% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $242 – making Nawabshah 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
Nawabshah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nawabshah or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Nawabshah, 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 Nawabshah and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $658 per month in Nawabshah 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, Nawabshah or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nawabshah, 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 Nawabshah and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $57.0 per month in Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 201% 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 Nawabshah or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $438 in Nawabshah and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nawabshah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nawabshah costs $438 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 Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nawabshah. 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.