🙂A single person spends $368 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $532 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $696 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Rahim Yar Khan is about 57% 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 Khan72% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 487
$1.96฿65.9
-10.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.91PKR 2,474
$18.35฿617
-51.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.20PKR 890
$7.48฿252
-57.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76PKR 487
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26PKR 906
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.89PKR 248
$2.02฿67.8
-55.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.8
$0.85฿28.52
-71.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16PKR 45.10
$0.36฿11.97
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59PKR 164
$1.65฿55.5
-64.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 165
$1.57฿52.7
-62.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$1.19฿40.05
-10.08%
Eggs
$1.07PKR 297
$1.94฿65.1
-44.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.26PKR 1,183
$16.19฿545
-73.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.16PKR 600
$2.99฿101
-27.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.15PKR 875
$10.94฿368
-71.21%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86PKR 238
$2.71฿91.2
-68.27%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72PKR 201
$1.17฿39.27
-38.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 160
$1.69฿56.8
-65.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$1.60฿54.0
-70.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40PKR 112
$1.38฿46.56
-71.01%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39PKR 109
$1.20฿40.47
-67.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61PKR 169
$0.67฿22.51
-8.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29PKR 79.4
$0.56฿18.74
-48.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.88PKR 521
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57PKR 435
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94PKR 539
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01PKR 557
$4.64฿156
-56.68%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15PKR 42.71
$0.88฿29.70
-82.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKR 1,915
$19.34฿651
-64.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08PKR 301
$1.36฿45.92
-20.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$1.34฿45.00
-67.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.43PKR 398
$8.21฿276
-82.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00PKR 277
$1.22฿41.20
-18.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KPKR 6.2M
$21.4K฿718.5K
5.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KPKR 6.1M
$22.5K฿758.1K
-2.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105PKR 29.0K
$70.7฿2,378
47.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.13PKR 870
$14.04฿472
-77.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.57PKR 3,767
$17.49฿589
-22.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.31PKR 3,972
$42.15฿1,418
-66.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96PKR 1,656
$6.88฿231
-13.37%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70PKR 749
$5.92฿199
-54.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$17.70PKR 4,914
$309฿10.4K
-94.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$880PKR 244.3K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-94.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.56PKR 3,489
$55.8฿1,876
-77.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.30PKR 5,915
$26.11฿879
-18.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.1PKR 14.7K
$83.0฿2,793
-36.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.66PKR 7,959
$70.5฿2,371
-59.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$79.8PKR 22.2K
$432฿14.5K
-81.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$61.0PKR 16.9K
$239฿8,040
-74.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$113PKR 31.4K
$822฿27.7K
-86.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.5PKR 26.5K
$512฿17.2K
-81.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$529PKR 146.9K
$1,915฿64.4K
-72.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$442PKR 122.8K
$1,467฿49.4K
-69.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rahim Yar Khan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$90.9PKR 25.3K
$579฿19.5K
-84.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.43
5
248.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $432 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 537% 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 $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $75.0 vs $243 – 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 134% 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 $552 per month in Rahim Yar Khan and $1,292 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 childcare costs compare in Rahim Yar Khan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $17.70 per month in Rahim Yar Khan and $309 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 Rahim Yar Khan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 226% 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 $800/month in Rahim Yar Khan or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $368 in Rahim Yar Khan and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rahim Yar Khan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rahim Yar Khan costs $368 versus $861 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