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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Sahiwal vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $557 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $749 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sahiwal is about 58% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sahiwal and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal 73% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.98 ฿64.3

-8.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.51 PKR 2,923

$18.80 ฿612

-44.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,166

$7.75 ฿252

-45.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 710

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 PKR 1,047

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.92 ฿62.5

-9.90%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.6

$0.79 ฿25.79

-58.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.36 ฿11.62

-47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 PKR 176

$1.65 ฿53.8

-61.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 PKR 114

$1.63 ฿53.2

-74.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.19 ฿38.86

-5.88%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$2.00 ฿65.1

-42.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,692

$15.98 ฿520

-61.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 847

$3.03 ฿98.5

0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,222

$10.86 ฿354

-59.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.76 ฿90.0

-62.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$1.18 ฿38.42

-45.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$1.64 ฿53.5

-78.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$1.52 ฿49.51

-70.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$1.38 ฿45.10

-76.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$1.19 ฿38.84

-58.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.70 ฿22.86

-32.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.56 ฿18.13

-41.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 310

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 537

$4.58 ฿149

-57.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.7

$0.88 ฿28.56

-79.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,959

$18.72 ฿610

-62.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$1.36 ฿44.16

-45.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$1.34 ฿43.65

-63.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 482

$7.84 ฿256

-77.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.23 ฿39.92

-26.83%

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

-17.62%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

3.53%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$70.5 ฿2,298

1.15%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,520

$13.68 ฿445

-60.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 PKR 4,877

$17.45 ฿568

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.32 PKR 3,426

$41.33 ฿1,346

-70.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,616

$6.96 ฿227

-16.52%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 988

$5.77 ฿188

-38.47%

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

$17.89 PKR 4,974

$307 ฿10.0K

-94.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,244 PKR 345.9K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-91.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.90 PKR 3,864

$55.8 ฿1,817

-75.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.25 PKR 3,407

$26.21 ฿854

-53.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 PKR 20.4K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-14.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,958

$72.2 ฿2,353

-60.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.6 PKR 20.7K

$430 ฿14.0K

-82.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$239 ฿7,774

-78.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$817 ฿26.6K

-79.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$511 ฿16.6K

-79.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 227.0K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-58.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 142.1K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-65.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

297.60%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.6 in Sahiwal versus $430 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 $11.00 in Sahiwal versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $241 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 139% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $546 per month in Sahiwal and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $17.89 per month in Sahiwal and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 178% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $364 in Sahiwal and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sahiwal costs $364 versus $869 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 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.