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 $498 per month in Okara vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $718 per month in Okara vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $939 per month in Okara vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Okara is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Okara 64% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 PKR 698

$2.08 ฿69.5

21.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.23 PKR 3,942

$19.61 ฿655

-27.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,539

$5.67 ฿189

-1.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 PKR 978

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,508

Cappuccino

$2.58 PKR 715

$1.81 ฿60.3

42.54%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.77 ฿25.65

-49.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.35 ฿11.53

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$0.62 PKR 172

$2.05 ฿68.4

-69.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 186

$1.51 ฿50.6

-55.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.40 ฿46.69

-17.14%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 326

$2.26 ฿75.4

-47.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,751

$16.19 ฿540

-60.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 PKR 702

$2.90 ฿96.7

-12.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 PKR 1,371

$9.42 ฿314

-47.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$2.68 ฿89.4

-54.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 PKR 189

$1.09 ฿36.37

-37.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$1.62 ฿54.0

-46.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$1.46 ฿48.74

-55.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.8

$1.28 ฿42.65

-76.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$1.06 ฿35.31

-68.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.72 ฿23.94

-30.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.53 ฿17.56

-30.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.05 PKR 291

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 479

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 592

$4.23 ฿141

-49.41%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.9

$0.88 ฿29.32

-78.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.14 PKR 2,809

$53.8 ฿1,795

-81.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 245

$1.17 ฿39.14

-23.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.58 ฿19.30

25.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 491

$2.39 ฿79.6

-25.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 256

$1.45 ฿48.41

-35.86%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

-15.65%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-0.96%

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

$130 PKR 36.1K

$63.7 ฿2,125

104.48%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,480

$12.89 ฿430

-58.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.58 PKR 4,594

$20.52 ฿685

-19.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.17 PKR 1,708

$39.02 ฿1,302

-84.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,176

$6.58 ฿220

-35.41%

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

$14.66 PKR 4,061

$784 ฿26.2K

-98.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,987 PKR 550.4K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-86.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.30 PKR 4,791

$55.1 ฿1,840

-68.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.97 PKR 7,470

$24.74 ฿826

9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 PKR 20.9K

$94.1 ฿3,142

-19.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.95 PKR 8,851

$74.0 ฿2,469

-56.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.2K

$490 ฿16.4K

-74.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

$288 ฿9,620

-72.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 PKR 75.0K

$891 ฿29.8K

-69.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.0K

$521 ฿17.4K

-75.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$806 PKR 223.3K

$1,974 ฿65.9K

-59.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$489 PKR 135.3K

$1,444 ฿48.2K

-66.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$142 PKR 39.4K

$602 ฿20.1K

-76.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

5.57

156.37%

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

Last update for Okara: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Okara 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 323% 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 $14.00 in Okara versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 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 87% 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 $746 per month in Okara and $1,398 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 $14.66 per month in Okara and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 157% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okara, where all-in costs run around $498, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Okara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Okara costs $498 versus $932 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.