🙂A single person spends $452 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $658 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $863 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Rahim Yar Khan is about 51% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Rahim Yar Khan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Rahim Yar Khan67% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.46PKR 405
$2.08฿69.3
-29.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.89PKR 3,018
$19.61฿653
-44.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58PKR 1,269
$5.67฿189
-19.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66PKR 738
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22PKR 1,445
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.88PKR 244
$1.81฿60.1
-51.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.3
$0.77฿25.58
-61.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18PKR 51.0
$0.35฿11.49
-48.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿73.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿126
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68PKR 189
$2.05฿68.2
-66.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43PKR 119
$1.51฿50.4
-71.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71PKR 197
$1.40฿46.57
-49.29%
Eggs
$1.10PKR 305
$2.26฿75.2
-51.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.20PKR 887
$16.19฿539
-80.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.47PKR 684
$2.90฿96.4
-14.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.36PKR 1,209
$9.42฿314
-53.72%
Apples(1kg)
$0.46PKR 129
$2.68฿89.2
-82.84%
Banana(1kg)
$0.34PKR 95.2
$1.09฿36.28
-68.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.53PKR 146
$1.62฿53.8
-67.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 95.2
$1.46฿48.61
-76.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.8
$1.28฿42.54
-72.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.28PKR 77.8
$1.06฿35.21
-73.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.19PKR 52.2
$0.72฿23.88
-73.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29PKR 81.0
$0.53฿17.51
-45.28%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.88PKR 522
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95PKR 818
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15PKR 596
$4.23฿141
-49.17%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63฿54.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.10PKR 27.96
$0.88฿29.24
-88.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75PKR 209
$1.17฿39.04
-35.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.58฿19.25
-36.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.21PKR 613
$2.39฿79.4
-7.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05PKR 290
$1.45฿48.28
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$21.0K฿699.5K
19.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KPKR 6.4M
$26.4K฿879.7K
-12.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142PKR 39.4K
$63.7฿2,119
123.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.95PKR 1,371
$12.89฿429
-61.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.25PKR 3,946
$20.52฿683
-30.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.74PKR 2,697
$39.02฿1,299
-75.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.00PKR 4,985
$3.92฿130
359.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.45PKR 1,232
$6.58฿219
-32.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$19.58PKR 5,423
$784฿26.1K
-97.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,026PKR 284.1K
$14.7K฿488.4K
-93.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.85PKR 3,006
$55.1฿1,835
-80.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.21PKR 5,044
$24.74฿824
-26.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3PKR 26.1K
$94.1฿3,133
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.50PKR 7,062
$74.0฿2,462
-65.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$124PKR 34.3K
$490฿16.3K
-74.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.1PKR 25.2K
$288฿9,594
-68.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271PKR 75.0K
$891฿29.7K
-69.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178PKR 49.4K
$521฿17.3K
-65.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$546PKR 151.3K
$1,974฿65.7K
-72.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$458PKR 126.8K
$1,444฿48.1K
-68.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$88.6PKR 24.6K
$602฿20.0K
-85.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.5
5.57
124.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Rahim Yar Khan 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 579% 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 Rahim Yar Khan versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $67.0 vs $241 – making Rahim Yar Khan 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
Rahim Yar Khan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rahim Yar Khan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 106% more than Rahim Yar Khan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Rahim Yar Khan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $679 per month in Rahim Yar Khan and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rahim Yar Khan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Rahim Yar Khan and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Rahim Yar Khan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 257% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rahim Yar Khan or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rahim Yar Khan, where all-in costs run around $452, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Rahim Yar Khan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rahim Yar Khan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rahim Yar Khan costs $452 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rahim Yar Khan compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Rahim Yar Khan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Rahim Yar Khan. 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.
Rahim Yar Khan vs other spots: cost of living compared