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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $504 per month in Sargodha vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $787 per month in Sargodha vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,070 per month in Sargodha vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sargodha is about 46% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sargodha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sargodha 63% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66 PKR 1,014
$2.08 ฿69.3
75.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.89 PKR 6,341
$19.61 ฿653
16.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.35 PKR 1,482
$5.67 ฿189
-5.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 PKR 986
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 PKR 1,945
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.59 PKR 719
$1.81 ฿60.1
43.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 97.7
$0.77 ฿25.58
-54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.9
$0.35 ฿11.49
-34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21 ฿73.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79 ฿126
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 255
$2.05 ฿68.2
-55.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 PKR 210
$1.51 ฿50.4
-49.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 PKR 343
$1.40 ฿46.57
-11.43%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 339
$2.26 ฿75.2
-46.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.07 PKR 1,682
$16.19 ฿539
-62.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 PKR 848
$2.90 ฿96.4
5.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.45 PKR 1,511
$9.42 ฿314
-42.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 357
$2.68 ฿89.2
-51.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 PKR 222
$1.09 ฿36.28
-26.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 PKR 294
$1.62 ฿53.8
-34.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 PKR 138
$1.46 ฿48.61
-65.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 78.3
$1.28 ฿42.54
-78.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$1.06 ฿35.21
-66.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 PKR 83.8
$0.72 ฿23.88
-58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 110
$0.53 ฿17.51
-24.53%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.76 PKR 488
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 PKR 328
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 PKR 726
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 PKR 660
$4.23 ฿141
-43.74%
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
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 48.22
$0.88 ฿29.24
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.12 PKR 3,081
$53.8 ฿1,790
-79.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 PKR 359
$1.17 ฿39.04
11.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 PKR 206
$0.58 ฿19.25
27.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 PKR 440
$2.39 ฿79.4
-33.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 PKR 359
$1.45 ฿48.28
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K PKR 5.9M
$21.0K ฿699.5K
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K PKR 6.7M
$26.4K ฿879.7K
-7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 PKR 28.3K
$63.7 ฿2,119
60.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94 PKR 1,644
$12.89 ฿429
-53.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.16 PKR 4,476
$20.52 ฿683
-21.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.98 PKR 4,702
$39.02 ฿1,299
-56.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92 ฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.43 PKR 1,226
$6.58 ฿219
-32.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.2 PKR 20.3K
$784 ฿26.1K
-90.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,007 PKR 279.0K
$14.7K ฿488.4K
-93.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.85 PKR 6,884
$55.1 ฿1,835
-54.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11 PKR 9,724
$24.74 ฿824
41.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 PKR 27.0K
$94.1 ฿3,133
3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.03 PKR 11.4K
$74.0 ฿2,462
-44.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$128 PKR 35.4K
$490 ฿16.3K
-73.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.7 PKR 21.2K
$288 ฿9,594
-73.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$250 PKR 69.4K
$891 ฿29.7K
-71.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 PKR 42.0K
$521 ฿17.3K
-70.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$919 PKR 254.6K
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-53.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$525 PKR 145.4K
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-63.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sargodha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$181 PKR 50.3K
$602 ฿20.0K
-69.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.08
5.57
134.83%

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

Last update for Sargodha: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Sargodha 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 231% 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 $23.00 in Sargodha versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $102 in Sargodha vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Sargodha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Sargodha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sargodha or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Sargodha, 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 Sargodha and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $757 per month in Sargodha 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, Sargodha or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sargodha, 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 Sargodha and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $73.2 per month in Sargodha and $784 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 Sargodha or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 136% 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 Sargodha or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sargodha, where all-in costs run around $504, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sargodha 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, Sargodha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sargodha costs $504 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 Sargodha 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 Sargodha or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sargodha. 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.

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