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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $446 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $649 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $853 in Gilgit, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 113% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gilgit 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$1.50 PKR 415

38.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$10.99 PKR 3,048

78.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.59 PKR 1,551

1.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 PKR 695

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 PKR 1,251

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.33 PKR 368

36.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.32 PKR 89.6

121.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.25 PKR 69.0

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.82 PKR 228

139.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.58 PKR 161

158.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.22 PKR 338

9.84%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.23 PKR 342

83.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$5.79 PKR 1,606

180.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.50 PKR 694

18.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$4.80 PKR 1,330

107.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.20 PKR 332

114.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.60 PKR 166

76.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.79 PKR 219

103.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.52 PKR 145

192.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.31 PKR 86.3

309.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.36 PKR 98.7

197.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.32 PKR 89.2

125.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.34 PKR 95.2

50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 501

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PKR 337

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 642

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.43 PKR 674

72.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.18 PKR 49.15

416.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$8.91 PKR 2,471

504.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.10 PKR 306

11.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.70 PKR 195

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.67 PKR 462

44.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.12 PKR 311

25.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

-7.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

26.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,093

$112 PKR 31.0K

-43.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿423

$2.02 PKR 559

536.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$14.20 PKR 3,935

42.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$15.25 PKR 4,228

154.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.19 PKR 1,161

60.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.6K

$14.41 PKR 3,994

5298.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$938 PKR 259.9K

1458.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$14.84 PKR 4,115

265.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$21.96 PKR 6,089

15.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$61.9 PKR 17.2K

52.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$28.30 PKR 7,846

159.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$127 PKR 35.1K

286.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$77.7 PKR 21.5K

272.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$249 PKR 68.9K

259.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$152 PKR 42.1K

240.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$918 PKR 254.5K

113.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$512 PKR 141.9K

188.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$179 PKR 49.7K

235.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.88

-56.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $127 in Gilgit. 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 236% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $91.0 – making Gilgit the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chiang Mai vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 113% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $669 in Gilgit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilgit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $14.41 in Gilgit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 166% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gilgit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $446 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gilgit. 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.