Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakpattan: $448 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Pakpattan, Pakistan
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pakpattan
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$448
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakpattan and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakpattan and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $448 per month in Pakpattan vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pakpattan $448
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $646 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pakpattan $646
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $843 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pakpattan $843
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Pakpattan is about 52% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Pakpattan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pakpattan 67% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.24 PKR 342
$2.13 ฿71.8
-41.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78 PKR 2,981
$18.62 ฿626
-42.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,460
$5.60 ฿188
-5.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 PKR 753
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 PKR 1,423
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.77 PKR 489
$1.66 ฿55.9
6.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 PKR 44.46
$0.65 ฿21.75
-75.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10 PKR 28.82
$0.30 ฿10.25
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.32 ฿78.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.67 ฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 PKR 174
$2.02 ฿67.8
-68.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 154
$1.41 ฿47.34
-60.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 PKR 245
$1.39 ฿46.79
-36.69%
Eggs
$1.14 PKR 315
$2.37 ฿79.6
-51.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.85 PKR 1,894
$16.52 ฿555
-58.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.48 PKR 686
$2.67 ฿89.8
-7.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.63 PKR 1,005
$9.02 ฿303
-59.76%
Apples (1kg)
$0.95 PKR 264
$2.40 ฿80.6
-60.42%
Banana (1kg)
$0.46 PKR 128
$1.04 ฿35.01
-55.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 77.0
$1.66 ฿55.8
-83.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$1.56 ฿52.4
-63.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 109
$1.24 ฿41.61
-68.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 PKR 126
$1.09 ฿36.53
-58.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 PKR 137
$0.76 ฿25.61
-34.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.51 ฿17.29
-27.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.83 PKR 506
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 PKR 306
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 PKR 674
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 593
$4.12 ฿139
-48.06%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.93 ฿603
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 ฿54.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.82 ฿94.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.1
$0.93 ฿31.42
-80.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.75 PKR 2,696
$52.9 ฿1,778
-81.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 PKR 394
$1.18 ฿39.56
20.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.17 ฿5.76
117.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 PKR 255
$1.81 ฿60.9
-49.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 272
$1.47 ฿49.51
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K PKR 6.8M
$21.0K ฿706.4K
17.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K PKR 6.5M
$26.5K ฿891.4K
-11.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 PKR 39.3K
$62.6 ฿2,103
126.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93 PKR 1,363
$11.60 ฿390
-57.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.98 PKR 5,251
$20.30 ฿683
-6.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.85 PKR 4,107
$37.88 ฿1,274
-60.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.04 PKR 2,225
$3.70 ฿124
117.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 PKR 1,220
$6.51 ฿219
-32.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$12.43 PKR 3,438
$727 ฿24.4K
-98.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$995 PKR 275.2K
$16.6K ฿557.2K
-94.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.72 PKR 2,965
$53.5 ฿1,800
-79.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.57 PKR 3,476
$24.80 ฿834
-49.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.84 PKR 6,872
$90.4 ฿3,039
-72.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.18 PKR 3,922
$72.0 ฿2,420
-80.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$137 PKR 37.9K
$481 ฿16.2K
-71.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$84.9 PKR 23.5K
$310 ฿10.4K
-72.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 PKR 72.7K
$1,058 ฿35.6K
-75.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 PKR 49.4K
$659 ฿22.1K
-72.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$806 PKR 223.0K
$2,418 ฿81.3K
-66.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$511 PKR 141.4K
$1,609 ฿54.1K
-68.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakpattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$110 PKR 30.5K
$595 ฿20.0K
-81.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
5.57
133.39%

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

Last update for Pakpattan: October 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakpattan
$166
Chiang Mai
$94 43.1% $71
Accommodation & Living
Pakpattan
$85
Chiang Mai
$310 265% $225
Groceries & Markets
Pakpattan
$84
Chiang Mai
$237 182% $153
Eating Out
Pakpattan
$48
Chiang Mai
$77 59.5% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Pakpattan
$28
Chiang Mai
$108 286% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Pakpattan
$24
Chiang Mai
$51 115% $27
Getting Around
Pakpattan
$14
Chiang Mai
$59 326% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $137 in Pakpattan versus $481 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 in Chiang Mai are about 5.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Pakpattan versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84 vs $237 – making Pakpattan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Pakpattan
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
04:29 4:29 AM
06:29 6:29 AM
2 h ahead of Pakpattan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
176,693
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pakpattan Chiang Mai 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pakpattan
  • Chiang Mai

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
Pakpattan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pakpattan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 109% more than Pakpattan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pakpattan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $672 per month in Pakpattan and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pakpattan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pakpattan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $137 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Pakpattan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $12.43 per month in Pakpattan and $727 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Pakpattan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 182% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Pakpattan or in Chiang Mai?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Pakpattan, where all-in costs run around $448, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Pakpattan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Pakpattan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Pakpattan. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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