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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $583 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $780 in Gilgit, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.81 PKR 505

8.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$10.79 PKR 3,008

74.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.14 PKR 1,155

91.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,008

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.43 PKR 400

33.57%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.32 PKR 88.8

162.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.23 PKR 64.4

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.72 PKR 200

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.59 PKR 165

174.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.15 PKR 321

2.61%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.24 PKR 346

62.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$3.95 PKR 1,100

302.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.00 PKR 837

0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.61 PKR 1,006

198.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.51 PKR 143

411.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.51 PKR 142

139.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.65 PKR 181

161.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.52 PKR 144

203.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.35 PKR 97.2

277.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.60 PKR 169

95.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.33 PKR 92.3

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.47 PKR 132

19.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 553

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.91 PKR 532

137.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.20 PKR 57.0

345.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$6.89 PKR 1,920

181.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.86 PKR 240

56.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.44 PKR 122

206.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.74 PKR 484

374.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.97 PKR 270

30.93%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-1.25%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-2.69%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$103 PKR 28.7K

-31.89%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$1.93 PKR 538

613.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$13.63 PKR 3,799

29.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$12.33 PKR 3,438

237.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.97 PKR 1,663

10.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.62 PKR 1,009

59.67%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$14.35 PKR 4,001

2033.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,116 PKR 311.2K

1228.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$14.95 PKR 4,168

263.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$22.52 PKR 6,277

16.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

22.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$29.02 PKR 8,091

139.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

458.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

355.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$169 PKR 47.2K

386.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$104 PKR 29.0K

395.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$813 PKR 226.7K

151.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$584 PKR 162.8K

160.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$179 PKR 50.0K

253.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-73.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $75.9 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 254% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $80.0 – 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 121% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $578 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $14.35 in Gilgit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 202% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $385 in Gilgit, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $385 versus $852 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.