Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rawalpindi is about 49% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.96 ฿65.9

-7.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$18.35 ฿617

-23.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$7.48 ฿252

-27.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$2.02 ฿67.8

-15.35%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.85 ฿28.52

-63.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.36 ฿11.97

-36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$1.65 ฿55.5

-47.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$1.57 ฿52.7

-66.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.19 ฿40.05

9.24%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.94 ฿65.1

-42.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$16.19 ฿545

-62.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$2.99 ฿101

14.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$10.94 ฿368

-59.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$2.71 ฿91.2

-62.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.17 ฿39.27

-41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.69 ฿56.8

-49.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$1.60 ฿54.0

-70.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$1.38 ฿46.56

-75.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$1.20 ฿40.47

-56.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.67 ฿22.51

-64.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.56 ฿18.74

-30.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$4.64 ฿156

-58.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.88 ฿29.70

-77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$19.34 ฿651

-50.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.36 ฿45.92

-36.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$1.34 ฿45.00

-76.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$8.21 ฿276

-64.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.22 ฿41.20

-20.49%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-17.37%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

1.08%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$70.7 ฿2,378

46.72%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$14.04 ฿472

-71.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$17.49 ฿589

-4.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$42.15 ฿1,418

-76.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$6.88 ฿231

7.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$5.92 ฿199

-41.39%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$309 ฿10.4K

-86.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-93.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$55.8 ฿1,876

-78.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$26.11 ฿879

-29.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$83.0 ฿2,793

7.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$70.5 ฿2,371

-58.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$432 ฿14.5K

-69.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$239 ฿8,040

-72.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$822 ฿27.7K

-59.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$512 ฿17.2K

-66.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-38.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-64.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$579 ฿19.5K

-69.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

303.40%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi 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 232% 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $243 – making Rawalpindi 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

Rawalpindi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Rawalpindi, 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 $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rawalpindi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $40.20 per month in Rawalpindi and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 157% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rawalpindi costs $437 versus $861 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 Rawalpindi. 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.