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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 75.7% more expensive than Islamabad without rent, and 56.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 69.1% more expensive than Islamabad without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.3
$2.91 PKR 813
-30.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿590
$14.19 PKR 3,969
31.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$5.20 PKR 1,456
43.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.79 PKR 500
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.98 PKR 1,113
-
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.3
$1.99 PKR 556
0.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.87
$0.43 PKR 120
97.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.15
$0.24 PKR 67.4
45.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.5
$1.01 PKR 284
70.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.8
$0.65 PKR 182
150.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.75
$1.28 PKR 358
-9.38%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.8
$1.23 PKR 343
60.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿505
$6.12 PKR 1,712
160.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$3.37 PKR 943
-5.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿346
$4.51 PKR 1,261
141.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.9
$0.99 PKR 277
167.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.79
$0.80 PKR 224
52.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.8
$0.94 PKR 263
80.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.4
$0.61 PKR 170
160.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.00
$0.41 PKR 116
221.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.07
$0.56 PKR 157
108.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.50
$0.31 PKR 85.9
119.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.68
$0.37 PKR 104
51.35%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.93 PKR 539
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.92 PKR 259
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 PKR 569
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.15 PKR 602
109.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿605
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.54
$0.17 PKR 46.32
464.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿599
$6.96 PKR 1,946
171.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.07
$0.90 PKR 252
51.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.89
$0.41 PKR 114
229.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿255
$2.75 PKR 768
192.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.43
$0.90 PKR 253
37.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿671.3K
$21.2K PKR 5.9M
-0.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿690.1K
$26.4K PKR 7.4M
-17.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,260
$112 PKR 31.2K
-36.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿447
$5.39 PKR 1,508
161.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿554
$18.43 PKR 5,155
-5.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,335
$22.69 PKR 6,346
85.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$5.92 PKR 1,657
16.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$4.21 PKR 1,178
41.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,750
$60.6 PKR 17.0K
406.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿469.3K
$2,746 PKR 768.2K
438.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,766
$21.22 PKR 5,937
162.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿850
$28.07 PKR 7,852
-4.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,640
$87.0 PKR 24.3K
-4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,224
$40.27 PKR 11.3K
74.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$200 PKR 56.1K
113.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,521
$110 PKR 30.9K
114.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$513 PKR 143.4K
56.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.0K
$289 PKR 80.9K
73.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.4K
$1,548 PKR 433.0K
33.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.6K
$732 PKR 204.8K
109.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$303 PKR 84.9K
115.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
20.2
-75.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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