For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $473 a month against $960 in Thailand, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Thailand actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $473 in Pakistan versus $960 in Thailand.
Pakistan $473
Thailand $960
Estimated couple costs with rent: $720 in Pakistan versus $1,558 in Thailand.
Pakistan $720
Thailand $1,558
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $968 in Pakistan versus $2,156 in Thailand.
Pakistan $968
Thailand $2,156
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Thailand: monthly costs span $609 to $2,098, compared to $291–$602 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Thailand.
🌍
Living in Pakistan costs about 51% less than in Thailand on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 65% lower, Thailand 29% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10PKR 583
$2.95฿98.7
-28.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.70PKR 3,793
$26.48฿885
-48.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.56PKR 1,539
$6.57฿219
-15.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14PKR 591
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46PKR 1,234
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.98PKR 549
$2.02฿67.5
-1.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.71฿23.64
-47.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.0
$0.34฿11.24
-38.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.28฿76.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.62฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88PKR 243
$1.76฿58.8
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 163
$1.40฿46.67
-57.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 336
$1.27฿42.35
-4.72%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 337
$2.05฿68.6
-40.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.66PKR 1,566
$16.65฿556
-66.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.82PKR 779
$2.92฿97.5
-3.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.19PKR 1,436
$10.99฿367
-52.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21PKR 334
$2.83฿94.5
-57.24%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65PKR 181
$1.30฿43.55
-50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89PKR 247
$2.04฿68.1
-56.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59PKR 164
$1.74฿58.2
-66.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 84.8
$1.48฿49.44
-79.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41PKR 114
$1.28฿42.66
-67.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 95.5
$1.15฿38.46
-69.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.54฿17.89
-29.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.07PKR 573
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12PKR 309
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25PKR 624
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13PKR 590
$4.40฿147
-51.59%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.20฿575
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73฿57.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.77฿92.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 44.06
$0.87฿29.06
-81.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.15PKR 2,810
$35.04฿1,171
-71.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88PKR 244
$1.17฿39.08
-24.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 146
$1.15฿38.35
-53.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.12PKR 586
$5.88฿197
-63.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25PKR 346
$1.40฿46.73
-10.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.0M
$31.9K฿1.1M
-42.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KPKR 6.5M
$26.4K฿882.1K
-10.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109PKR 30.3K
$82.4฿2,753
32.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.40PKR 1,495
$12.49฿418
-56.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.19PKR 4,480
$18.61฿622
-13.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.15PKR 4,746
$48.67฿1,627
-64.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.40PKR 3,155
$11.48฿384
-0.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.36PKR 1,206
$6.74฿225
-35.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.28PKR 12.8K
$529฿17.7K
-91.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,513PKR 418.7K
$12.0K฿402.4K
-87.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.14PKR 4,745
$53.7฿1,795
-68.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.35PKR 6,462
$32.09฿1,072
-27.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.7PKR 21.0K
$89.4฿2,989
-15.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.05PKR 9,701
$80.7฿2,695
-56.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141PKR 39.0K
$468฿15.6K
-69.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.9PKR 21.8K
$286฿9,543
-72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$322PKR 89.1K
$1,251฿41.8K
-74.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172PKR 47.7K
$681฿22.8K
-74.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,047PKR 289.7K
$3,628฿121.3K
-71.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$523PKR 144.7K
$1,945฿65.0K
-73.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Thailand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$189PKR 52.4K
$563฿18.8K
-66.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.1
5.67
148.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakistan: October 18, 2026
Last update for Thailand: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131 27.7%
Thailand
$113 11.8% ↓ 13.4%$18
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$95 20.1%
Thailand
$248 25.8% ↑ 161%$153
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$79 16.7%
Thailand
$286 29.8% ↑ 262%$207
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$68 14.4%
Thailand
$115 12% ↑ 69.2%$47
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$60 12.6%
Thailand
$90 9.4% ↑ 51.4%$31
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$26 5.5%
Thailand
$62 6.5% ↑ 140%$36
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$14 3%
Thailand
$45 4.7% ↑ 218%$31
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$136 14.1%
Thailand
$126 5.8% ↓ 7.7%$10
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$231 23.8%
Thailand
$559 25.9% ↑ 142%$328
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$172 17.8%
Thailand
$681 31.6% ↑ 295%$509
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$151 15.6%
Thailand
$256 11.9% ↑ 69.2%$105
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$185 19.2%
Thailand
$306 14.2% ↑ 65%$121
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$63 6.5%
Thailand
$136 6.3% ↑ 115%$73
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$29 3%
Thailand
$93 4.3% ↑ 220%$64
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $124 in Pakistan, $461 in Thailand. Capital cities: $269 in Islamabad vs $673 in Bangkok.
💰National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $614 in Thailand. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 272% higher in Thailand.
⭐Dining out costs 108% more in Thailand.
⭐Salaries are 232% higher in Thailand, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Thailand.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Pakistan vs Thailand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Thailand?
At $473 per month in Pakistan and $960 in Thailand, there's a 103% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $461 in Thailand and $124 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or in Thailand?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Thailand it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Thailand?
It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; Thailand may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.