Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and Karachi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, and The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $26. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chiang Mai and Karachi in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Karachi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Karachi and Chiang Mai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Karachi, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chiang Mai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chiang Mai than you might in Karachi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Karachi Expensive?.
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Karachi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Karachi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chiang Mai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Karachi and Chiang Mai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Karachi in the summer. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Karachi fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
In the summer, Chiang Mai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karachi receives 155 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in July than Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Karachi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
In the autumn, Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Karachi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chiang Mai in October average around 29°C (83°F), and Karachi averages at about 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Karachi this time of the year. In Chiang Mai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chiang Mai usually receives less sunshine than Karachi during autumn. Chiang Mai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Karachi receives 284 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Chiang Mai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season.
The winter brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Karachi. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Chiang Mai is generally a little warmer than Karachi. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 23°C (74°F), and Karachi fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karachi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chiang Mai this time of the year. In the winter, Chiang Mai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karachi receives 271 hours of full sun.
Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in January than Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season.
Both Karachi and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
It's very hot in Chiang Mai this time of the year. Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Karachi in the spring. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Karachi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Karachi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi during spring. Chiang Mai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Karachi receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Karachi. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September.
Chiang Mai | Karachi | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |