🙂A single person spends $475 per month in Nawabshah vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $701 per month in Nawabshah vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $927 per month in Nawabshah vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nawabshah is about 49% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Nawabshah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nawabshah65% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 587
$2.08฿69.5
1.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.41PKR 3,715
$19.61฿655
-31.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34PKR 1,479
$5.67฿189
-5.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14PKR 593
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01PKR 1,943
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.23PKR 617
$1.81฿60.3
23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 107
$0.77฿25.65
-49.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.1
$0.35฿11.53
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿73.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 235
$2.05฿68.4
-58.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 154
$1.51฿50.6
-62.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$1.40฿46.69
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 339
$2.26฿75.4
-46.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.25PKR 1,730
$16.19฿540
-61.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05PKR 844
$2.90฿96.7
5.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,681
$9.42฿314
-35.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22PKR 338
$2.68฿89.4
-54.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 165
$1.09฿36.37
-44.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03PKR 285
$1.62฿54.0
-36.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 154
$1.46฿48.74
-61.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.5
$1.28฿42.65
-73.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31PKR 85.6
$1.06฿35.31
-70.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.72฿23.94
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 121
$0.53฿17.56
-16.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.23PKR 341
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35PKR 375
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 665
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.82PKR 505
$4.23฿141
-56.97%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿611
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63฿54.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 45.17
$0.88฿29.32
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.07PKR 2,512
$53.8฿1,795
-83.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 203
$1.17฿39.14
-37.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69PKR 192
$0.58฿19.30
18.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11PKR 584
$2.39฿79.6
-11.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28PKR 355
$1.45฿48.41
-11.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$21.0K฿701.4K
-15.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
$26.4K฿882.0K
0.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109PKR 30.2K
$63.7฿2,125
71.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.82PKR 1,613
$12.89฿430
-54.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.40PKR 3,711
$20.52฿685
-34.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.49PKR 3,736
$39.02฿1,302
-65.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.37PKR 1,210
$6.58฿220
-33.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$49.92PKR 13.8K
$784฿26.2K
-93.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,599PKR 442.9K
$14.7K฿489.8K
-89.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.42PKR 4,272
$55.1฿1,840
-72.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.92PKR 6,072
$24.74฿826
-11.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6PKR 19.3K
$94.1฿3,142
-26.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.71PKR 10.7K
$74.0฿2,469
-47.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126PKR 34.8K
$490฿16.4K
-74.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.0PKR 21.6K
$288฿9,620
-72.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258PKR 71.4K
$891฿29.8K
-71.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150PKR 41.4K
$521฿17.4K
-71.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$965PKR 267.3K
$1,974฿65.9K
-51.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$443PKR 122.8K
$1,444฿48.2K
-69.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nawabshah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$126PKR 34.9K
$602฿20.1K
-79.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.88
5.57
131.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nawabshah: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Nawabshah versus $490 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 377% 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 Nawabshah versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $241 – 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 96% 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 $712 per month in Nawabshah and $1,398 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 $49.92 per month in Nawabshah and $784 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 139% 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 Nawabshah or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nawabshah, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Nawabshah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nawabshah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nawabshah costs $475 versus $932 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.