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: $923 in Thailand versus $391 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,553 in Thailand versus $590 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Thailand versus $788 in Pakistan.

Living in Thailand is roughly 136% more expensive than in 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 $629 to $2,135, compared to $294$532 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Thailand.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 ฿104
$1.74 PKR 484
79.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.26 ฿943
$12.15 PKR 3,371
132.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 ฿233
$4.31 PKR 1,196
61.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.73 PKR 479
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.05 PKR 1,123
-
Cappuccino
$2.06 ฿68.8
$1.80 PKR 500
14.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.61
$0.34 PKR 94.0
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.65
$0.23 PKR 64.1
39.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 ฿70.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ฿120
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.9
$0.76 PKR 211
148.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿47.42
$0.55 PKR 151
158.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.43
$1.18 PKR 327
12.71%
Eggs
$2.16 ฿71.9
$1.16 PKR 321
86.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿565
$5.84 PKR 1,620
190.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 ฿102
$2.91 PKR 806
4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.72 ฿358
$4.15 PKR 1,151
158.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 ฿101
$1.06 PKR 294
186.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.41
$0.61 PKR 170
127.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ฿67.9
$0.80 PKR 222
155.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.5
$0.49 PKR 137
232.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 ฿52.5
$0.39 PKR 107
302.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 ฿42.88
$0.51 PKR 142
152.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ฿39.43
$0.38 PKR 107
210.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.39 PKR 107
25.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.98 PKR 549
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 PKR 295
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01 PKR 559
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56 ฿152
$1.97 PKR 547
131.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.18 ฿573
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿61.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 ฿103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.17 PKR 46.85
329.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.32 ฿1,111
$6.96 PKR 1,932
378.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.26
$0.84 PKR 232
44.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿40.13
$0.57 PKR 157
110.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.25 ฿209
$1.81 PKR 504
245.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿43.76
$0.96 PKR 268
36.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K ฿991.7K
$17.5K PKR 4.8M
70.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ฿948.6K
$23.6K PKR 6.6M
20.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 ฿2,666
$110 PKR 30.4K
-27.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58 ฿453
$4.74 PKR 1,315
186.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.35 ฿612
$15.16 PKR 4,207
21.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 ฿1,688
$13.16 PKR 3,654
284.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.40 ฿347
$8.95 PKR 2,483
16.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.42 ฿248
$4.12 PKR 1,145
80.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 ฿13.7K
$39.53 PKR 11.0K
940.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ฿426.9K
$1,143 PKR 317.2K
1019.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.74 ฿1,593
$15.62 PKR 4,335
205.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.05 ฿1,136
$23.22 PKR 6,443
46.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 ฿3,218
$72.4 PKR 20.1K
33.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7 ฿2,493
$32.81 PKR 9,105
127.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$497 ฿16.6K
$111 PKR 30.7K
348.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 ฿8,770
$67.8 PKR 18.8K
287.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 ฿40.7K
$274 PKR 76.1K
344.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 ฿22.1K
$163 PKR 45.3K
305.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,428 ฿114.4K
$984 PKR 273.1K
248.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,956 ฿65.2K
$502 PKR 139.2K
289.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$559 ฿18.7K
$186 PKR 51.7K
200.06%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $452 in Thailand, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $662 in Bangkok vs $197 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $620 in Thailand, $181 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 479% higher in Thailand.

Dining out costs 155% more in Thailand.

Salaries are 243% higher in Thailand, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Thailand.

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 $413 per month in Pakistan and $1,382 in Thailand, there's a 235% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Thailand?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Thailand it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to 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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