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 $303 per month in Okara vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $447 per month in Okara vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $592 per month in Okara vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Okara is about 64% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Okara 77% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.96 ฿64.0

-46.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.41 PKR 2,903

$18.81 ฿615

-44.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 PKR 1,158

$7.92 ฿259

-47.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 801

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 PKR 505

Cappuccino

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.91 ฿62.6

-37.70%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.3

$0.84 ฿27.41

-60.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.35 ฿11.51

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$1.64 ฿53.5

-56.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 122

$1.62 ฿53.1

-72.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.18 ฿38.62

-0.85%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$2.01 ฿65.8

-42.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.25 PKR 628

$15.89 ฿520

-85.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.33 PKR 649

$3.01 ฿98.5

-22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 896

$10.77 ฿352

-70.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$2.61 ฿85.5

-59.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.22 ฿39.88

-58.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$1.70 ฿55.7

-75.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$1.58 ฿51.5

-71.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$1.32 ฿43.14

-75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.17 ฿38.23

-56.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.67 ฿21.98

-41.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 81.3

$0.56 ฿18.32

-48.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.69 PKR 192

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.6

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 252

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 PKR 423

$4.53 ฿148

-66.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 PKR 27.66

$0.89 ฿29.00

-88.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.86 PKR 798

$19.38 ฿634

-85.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.35 ฿44.20

-48.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$1.35 ฿44.05

-63.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$8.25 ฿270

-78.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 269

$1.27 ฿41.64

-24.41%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

-16.87%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

2.86%

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

$89.0 PKR 24.8K

$70.2 ฿2,294

26.93%

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

$3.15 PKR 879

$13.77 ฿450

-77.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.40 PKR 2,900

$17.60 ฿575

-40.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.51 PKR 3,488

$41.57 ฿1,360

-69.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,625

$6.60 ฿216

-11.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,159

$5.78 ฿189

-28.03%

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

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$306 ฿10.0K

-95.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,255 PKR 349.9K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-91.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.02 PKR 4,187

$54.4 ฿1,778

-72.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.53 PKR 6,003

$26.14 ฿855

-17.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.30 PKR 8,725

$84.5 ฿2,764

-62.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.71 PKR 8,560

$69.4 ฿2,270

-55.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$27.84 PKR 7,761

$424 ฿13.9K

-93.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.77 PKR 4,955

$238 ฿7,788

-92.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$42.28 PKR 11.8K

$825 ฿27.0K

-94.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.91 PKR 8,895

$515 ฿16.8K

-93.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$2,049 ฿67.0K

-63.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 PKR 140.7K

$1,523 ฿49.8K

-66.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$143 PKR 39.8K

$635 ฿20.8K

-77.54%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $27.84 in Okara versus $424 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 345% 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 $10.00 in Okara versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $68.0 vs $243 – 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 182% 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 $454 per month in Okara and $1,278 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 $14.22 per month in Okara and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 256% 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 $303 in Okara and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Okara costs $303 versus $852 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.