Cost of Living Comparison Between Thailand and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Thailand and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Thailand versus $391 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,554 in Thailand versus $593 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,185 in Thailand versus $794 in Pakistan.

Living in Thailand is roughly 136% more expensive than Pakistan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Thailand 31% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Thailand: monthly costs span $636 to $2,075, compared to $292$543 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Thailand.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 ฿101
$1.72 PKR 480
81.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.65 ฿899
$12.23 PKR 3,414
126.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.75 ฿220
$4.15 PKR 1,157
62.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80 PKR 503
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.03 PKR 1,125
-
Cappuccino
$2.11 ฿68.5
$1.73 PKR 482
21.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ฿23.05
$0.33 PKR 92.9
115.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.07
$0.21 PKR 58.5
61.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 ฿70.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ฿58.7
$0.81 PKR 226
123.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.29
$0.55 PKR 153
158.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.13
$1.20 PKR 336
10.83%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿68.0
$1.21 PKR 337
72.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.88 ฿549
$5.94 PKR 1,657
184.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿97.9
$2.95 PKR 824
2.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.48 ฿341
$4.22 PKR 1,179
148.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 ฿98.7
$1.05 PKR 294
189.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 ฿44.57
$0.62 PKR 173
120.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 ฿65.3
$0.81 PKR 227
148.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.2
$0.52 PKR 145
209.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿48.36
$0.36 PKR 100
313.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.15
$0.48 PKR 135
177.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ฿38.33
$0.39 PKR 108
202.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.34
$0.39 PKR 108
35.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.98 PKR 554
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.11 PKR 309
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.07 PKR 579
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 ฿143
$1.97 PKR 551
123.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿583
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿57.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 ฿96.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 ฿24.02
$0.16 PKR 44.55
362.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.73 ฿1,064
$7.00 PKR 1,953
367.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿39.49
$0.90 PKR 250
34.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 ฿37.22
$0.51 PKR 143
123.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.26 ฿204
$1.74 PKR 485
259.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿42.11
$0.90 PKR 252
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K ฿971.3K
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
66.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K ฿934.0K
$23.8K PKR 6.6M
20.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 ฿2,548
$111 PKR 30.9K
-29.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.75 ฿447
$4.75 PKR 1,325
189.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.04 ฿587
$15.51 PKR 4,328
16.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.57 ฿1,611
$13.30 PKR 3,713
272.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.05 ฿327
$8.50 PKR 2,372
18.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 ฿246
$4.22 PKR 1,178
79.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$408 ฿13.3K
$39.14 PKR 10.9K
942.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ฿410.2K
$1,145 PKR 319.5K
1002.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.53 ฿1,578
$15.80 PKR 4,409
207.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42 ฿1,086
$23.72 PKR 6,621
40.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 ฿3,158
$72.3 PKR 20.2K
34.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 ฿2,450
$33.09 PKR 9,236
127.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 ฿15.9K
$114 PKR 31.8K
329.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 ฿8,621
$67.1 PKR 18.7K
294.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.2K
$280 PKR 78.2K
331.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 ฿21.6K
$165 PKR 46.0K
304.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,908 ฿127.0K
$888 PKR 248.0K
339.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,031 ฿66.0K
$530 PKR 148.1K
282.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$608 ฿19.8K
$188 PKR 52.4K
223.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
18.97
-70.06%

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

Last update for Thailand: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $454 in Thailand, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $683 in Bangkok vs $200 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $666 in Thailand, $181 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 482% higher in Thailand.

Dining out costs 155% more in Thailand.

Salaries are 268% higher in Thailand, giving Thailand stronger purchasing power.

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
Thailand vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Thailand?
At $418 per month in Pakistan and $1,356 in Thailand, there's a 225% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Thailand beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or Thailand?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Thailand, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or Thailand?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Thailand may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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