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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $295 per month in Okara vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $438 per month in Okara vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $582 per month in Okara vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Okara is about 66% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Okara 78% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.98 ฿64.3

-47.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,989

$18.80 ฿612

-42.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$7.75 ฿252

-46.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 805

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 501

Cappuccino

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.92 ฿62.5

-36.46%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.79 ฿25.79

-55.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.36 ฿11.62

-36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 204

$1.65 ฿53.8

-55.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 PKR 111

$1.63 ฿53.2

-75.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.19 ฿38.86

1.68%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$2.00 ฿65.1

-42.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.23 PKR 620

$15.98 ฿520

-86.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 PKR 656

$3.03 ฿98.5

-22.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 888

$10.86 ฿354

-70.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$2.76 ฿90.0

-61.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$1.18 ฿38.42

-53.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 118

$1.64 ฿53.5

-74.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$1.52 ฿49.51

-70.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$1.38 ฿45.10

-73.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$1.19 ฿38.84

-56.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.70 ฿22.86

-38.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.56 ฿18.13

-48.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 PKR 257

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 PKR 425

$4.58 ฿149

-66.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 PKR 33.14

$0.88 ฿28.56

-86.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.85 PKR 793

$18.72 ฿610

-84.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.36 ฿44.16

-49.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 146

$1.34 ฿43.65

-60.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$7.84 ฿256

-77.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.23 ฿39.92

-26.02%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

-18.04%

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

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

4.17%

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

$90.2 PKR 25.1K

$70.5 ฿2,298

27.81%

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

$3.10 PKR 861

$13.68 ฿445

-77.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.65 PKR 2,961

$17.45 ฿568

-38.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.63 PKR 3,511

$41.33 ฿1,346

-69.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,682

$6.96 ฿227

-13.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,195

$5.77 ฿188

-25.48%

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

$14.01 PKR 3,896

$307 ฿10.0K

-95.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,239 PKR 344.6K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-91.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.26 PKR 4,243

$55.8 ฿1,817

-72.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.82 PKR 5,788

$26.21 ฿854

-20.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.73 PKR 8,821

$85.8 ฿2,793

-63.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.48 PKR 8,474

$72.2 ฿2,353

-57.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$28.65 PKR 7,966

$430 ฿14.0K

-93.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.41 PKR 4,839

$239 ฿7,774

-92.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$41.87 PKR 11.6K

$817 ฿26.6K

-94.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$32.08 PKR 8,919

$511 ฿16.6K

-93.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,004 PKR 279.2K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-49.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$515 PKR 143.3K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-65.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.3K

$619 ฿20.2K

-76.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

297.60%

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

Last update for Okara: June 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $28.65 in Okara versus $430 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 327% 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 $11.00 in Okara versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $69.0 vs $241 – making Okara 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 195% more than Okara, 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 $442 per month in Okara and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $14.01 per month in Okara and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 251% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $295 in Okara and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Okara costs $295 versus $869 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 Okara. 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.