Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $353 per month in Nowshera vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Nowshera vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $805 per month in Nowshera vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nowshera is about 59% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nowshera and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nowshera 74% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$1.96 ฿65.8

47.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.31 PKR 3,974

$18.35 ฿617

-22.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,486

$7.48 ฿252

-28.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 498

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PKR 1,090

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.02 ฿67.8

1.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.85 ฿28.50

-49.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.36 ฿11.96

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$1.65 ฿55.5

-52.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$1.57 ฿52.7

-60.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.19 ฿40.02

1.68%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.94 ฿65.1

-41.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,760

$16.19 ฿544

-60.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 PKR 768

$2.99 ฿101

-7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.91 PKR 1,086

$10.94 ฿368

-64.26%

Apples (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$2.71 ฿91.2

-78.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$1.17 ฿39.25

-65.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.69 ฿56.7

-47.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$1.60 ฿54.0

-62.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 114

$1.38 ฿46.54

-70.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$1.20 ฿40.45

-72.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.8

$0.67 ฿22.50

-53.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.56 ฿18.73

-33.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.48 PKR 412

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 235

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 PKR 381

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 600

$4.64 ฿156

-53.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.59

$0.88 ฿29.68

-80.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.23 PKR 2,008

$19.34 ฿650

-62.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 254

$1.36 ฿45.90

-32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 121

$1.34 ฿44.98

-67.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 PKR 768

$8.21 ฿276

-66.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.22 ฿41.18

-19.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

-1.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

14.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$28.81 PKR 7,999

$70.7 ฿2,376

-59.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.11 PKR 585

$14.04 ฿472

-84.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.46 PKR 3,183

$17.49 ฿588

-34.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,486

$42.15 ฿1,417

-70.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 PKR 1,642

$6.88 ฿231

-13.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,168

$5.92 ฿199

-28.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

$309 ฿10.4K

-80.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,108 PKR 307.8K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-92.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.24 PKR 5,898

$55.8 ฿1,875

-61.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.23 PKR 7,839

$26.11 ฿878

8.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 PKR 24.3K

$83.0 ฿2,792

5.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.80 PKR 11.3K

$70.5 ฿2,369

-42.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$432 ฿14.5K

-82.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

$239 ฿8,035

-78.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$822 ฿27.7K

-79.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$512 ฿17.2K

-79.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$871 PKR 241.8K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-54.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.6K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-63.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

304.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nowshera: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Nowshera 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 Nowshera versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $243 – making Nowshera 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

Nowshera vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 144% more than Nowshera, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $529 per month in Nowshera and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nowshera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $59.1 per month in Nowshera and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 178% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $353 in Nowshera and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nowshera costs $353 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nowshera. 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.