🙂A single person spends $497 per month in Sahiwal vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $722 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $947 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sahiwal is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sahiwal and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal64% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56PKR 709
$2.10฿69.3
21.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.38PKR 3,985
$19.84฿656
-27.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.53PKR 1,531
$5.79฿191
-4.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54PKR 981
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38PKR 1,492
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.57PKR 711
$1.83฿60.4
40.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$0.78฿25.61
-46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26PKR 72.3
$0.31฿10.37
-16.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.34฿77.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.70฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 251
$2.03฿67.1
-55.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKR 183
$1.60฿52.7
-58.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 336
$1.42฿46.75
-14.79%
Eggs
$1.23PKR 341
$2.18฿71.9
-43.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.47PKR 1,794
$15.91฿526
-59.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.45PKR 679
$3.07฿102
-20.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.93PKR 1,365
$9.87฿326
-50.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21PKR 335
$2.63฿86.8
-53.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.66PKR 184
$1.10฿36.19
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83PKR 229
$1.63฿53.8
-49.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64PKR 178
$1.53฿50.6
-58.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30PKR 83.5
$1.24฿41.13
-75.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32PKR 89.8
$1.13฿37.37
-71.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45PKR 126
$0.74฿24.38
-39.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 92.9
$0.50฿16.48
-32.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.10PKR 305
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.61PKR 169
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72PKR 477
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10PKR 583
$4.28฿141
-50.93%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿594
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70฿56.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.60
$0.94฿31.13
-81.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.75PKR 2,701
$55.3฿1,827
-82.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93PKR 257
$1.23฿40.76
-24.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70PKR 193
$0.53฿17.66
32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.77PKR 491
$2.40฿79.3
-26.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33PKR 369
$1.44฿47.55
-7.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$21.2K฿700.2K
-16.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124PKR 34.4K
$64.9฿2,145
91.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.20PKR 1,441
$13.35฿441
-61.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.26PKR 4,504
$20.83฿688
-21.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.02PKR 4,161
$40.42฿1,336
-62.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.41PKR 1,221
$6.71฿222
-34.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.39PKR 12.3K
$787฿26.0K
-94.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,010PKR 556.9K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-86.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.73PKR 4,634
$56.2฿1,858
-70.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95PKR 6,913
$24.95฿824
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2PKR 20.3K
$92.7฿3,063
-21.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.87PKR 8,274
$75.1฿2,482
-60.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$127PKR 35.1K
$484฿16.0K
-73.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.4PKR 21.4K
$287฿9,491
-73.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$252PKR 69.9K
$910฿30.1K
-72.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$151PKR 41.8K
$531฿17.5K
-71.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$909PKR 251.9K
$1,980฿65.4K
-54.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$511PKR 141.5K
$1,451฿47.9K
-64.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sahiwal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.22
5.57
155.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sahiwal: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Sahiwal versus $484 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Sahiwal versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $242 – making Sahiwal 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
Sahiwal vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sahiwal or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Sahiwal, 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 Sahiwal and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $745 per month in Sahiwal and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sahiwal or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sahiwal, 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 Sahiwal and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $44.39 per month in Sahiwal and $787 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 Sahiwal or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 153% 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 $1,500/month in Sahiwal or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sahiwal, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sahiwal 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, Sahiwal or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sahiwal costs $497 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sahiwal 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 Sahiwal or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sahiwal. 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.