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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $388 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $582 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $776 in Gilgit, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 118% 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 ฿64.1

$1.75 PKR 486

12.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$10.40 PKR 2,891

76.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$4.05 PKR 1,125

94.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 PKR 962

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.49 PKR 414

30.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.32 PKR 87.9

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.21 PKR 58.4

52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.73 PKR 202

127.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$0.60 PKR 167

160.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.19 PKR 331

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.28 PKR 356

55.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$3.79 PKR 1,054

328.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$3.00 PKR 834

5.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$3.58 PKR 995

202.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$0.51 PKR 142

419.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$0.52 PKR 143

134.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$0.61 PKR 170

170.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$0.56 PKR 154

176.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.35 PKR 96.0

280.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$0.60 PKR 165

101.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.31 PKR 85.1

119.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.48 PKR 134

18.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.59 PKR 441

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 240

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$1.93 PKR 536

142.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.17 PKR 47.01

435.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$6.88 PKR 1,912

172.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$0.85 PKR 237

65.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$0.40 PKR 113

235.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$1.81 PKR 504

349.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$0.96 PKR 267

33.33%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

2.41%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-2.85%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$100.0 PKR 27.8K

-29.48%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$1.92 PKR 533

631.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$13.97 PKR 3,883

26.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$12.25 PKR 3,405

237.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$5.98 PKR 1,663

13.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$3.47 PKR 964

71.76%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$14.30 PKR 3,975

2018.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$1,101 PKR 306.0K

1258.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$15.22 PKR 4,231

259.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$22.52 PKR 6,259

16.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

25.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$29.00 PKR 8,061

140.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

460.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

363.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$167 PKR 46.5K

384.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$104 PKR 29.0K

388.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

$859 PKR 238.8K

135.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$480 PKR 133.4K

212.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$183 PKR 50.9K

240.04%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $76.4 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 240% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 118% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $582 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $14.30 in Gilgit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 201% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $388 in Gilgit, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $388 versus $848 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.