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: $921 in Thailand versus $392 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Thailand versus $592 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,175 in Thailand versus $792 in Pakistan.

Living in Thailand is roughly 135% 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 $632 to $2,127, compared to $289$533 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Thailand.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ฿98.8
$1.75 PKR 488
73.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.24 ฿920
$12.30 PKR 3,421
129.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.89 ฿224
$4.12 PKR 1,147
67.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76 PKR 488
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.18 PKR 1,161
-
Cappuccino
$2.14 ฿69.6
$1.72 PKR 479
24.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ฿23.03
$0.33 PKR 92.6
115.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.40
$0.21 PKR 58.2
52.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 ฿71.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ฿58.5
$0.82 PKR 227
119.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.22
$0.55 PKR 152
158.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 ฿42.16
$1.17 PKR 325
10.26%
Eggs
$2.15 ฿70.0
$1.21 PKR 337
77.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.25 ฿562
$5.92 PKR 1,645
191.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 ฿98.9
$2.91 PKR 810
4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.70 ฿349
$4.14 PKR 1,151
158.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.6
$1.06 PKR 294
185.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ฿45.23
$0.62 PKR 172
124.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 ฿69.0
$0.76 PKR 213
178.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.1
$0.53 PKR 147
213.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿49.07
$0.38 PKR 106
297.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 ฿42.16
$0.48 PKR 134
168.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 ฿38.13
$0.38 PKR 106
207.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.19
$0.39 PKR 108
28.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.99 PKR 552
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 PKR 295
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01 PKR 558
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36 ฿142
$2.04 PKR 567
113.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 ฿498
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ฿99.5
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 ฿24.15
$0.20 PKR 56.5
270.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.20 ฿1,081
$7.26 PKR 2,020
357.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 ฿40.98
$0.90 PKR 252
40.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿39.12
$0.52 PKR 146
130.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 ฿199
$1.74 PKR 484
250.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿42.43
$0.96 PKR 268
35.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K ฿952.6K
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
68.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K ฿920.8K
$23.5K PKR 6.5M
20.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.4 ฿2,584
$111 PKR 30.9K
-28.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60 ฿443
$4.55 PKR 1,266
198.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿596
$15.24 PKR 4,236
20.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.51 ฿1,612
$13.26 PKR 3,686
273.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.29 ฿335
$8.49 PKR 2,360
21.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.35 ฿239
$4.28 PKR 1,191
71.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 ฿13.7K
$38.97 PKR 10.8K
976.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ฿410.7K
$1,177 PKR 327.3K
971.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.19 ฿1,602
$15.65 PKR 4,352
214.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.13 ฿1,079
$23.01 PKR 6,398
43.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 ฿3,080
$72.5 PKR 20.2K
30.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.5 ฿2,491
$32.10 PKR 8,925
138.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 ฿16.1K
$111 PKR 30.8K
347.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 ฿8,872
$66.4 PKR 18.5K
310.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ฿39.0K
$271 PKR 75.5K
341.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 ฿21.4K
$166 PKR 46.0K
297.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,529 ฿115.0K
$987 PKR 274.5K
257.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,957 ฿63.8K
$517 PKR 143.8K
278.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thailand
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$604 ฿19.7K
$184 PKR 51.0K
229.01%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $453 in Thailand, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $659 in Bangkok vs $201 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $661 in Thailand, $183 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 481% higher in Thailand.

Dining out costs 155% more in Thailand.

Salaries are 261% 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 $411 per month in Pakistan and $1,380 in Thailand, there's a 236% 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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