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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.57 PKR 990

-41.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-13.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.47 PKR 1,517

3.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.39 PKR 663

-24.27%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.32 PKR 90.0

121.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.22 PKR 60.8

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.99 PKR 275

97.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.79 PKR 220

89.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.28 PKR 354

4.69%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.28 PKR 356

76.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$6.11 PKR 1,695

166.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.06 PKR 849

-3.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$5.12 PKR 1,421

94.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.34 PKR 371

91.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$0.84 PKR 232

26.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.02 PKR 282

57.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.49 PKR 135

210.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.29 PKR 81.2

337.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.33 PKR 90.4

224.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.29 PKR 80.8

148.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.38 PKR 106

34.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.28 PKR 632

83.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.16 PKR 44.31

481.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$21.23 PKR 5,889

153.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.27 PKR 353

-3.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.69 PKR 191

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.65 PKR 459

46.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.32 PKR 365

6.82%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-60.25%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

8.88%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$102 PKR 28.3K

-37.64%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.83 PKR 1,618

120.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$16.34 PKR 4,534

23.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$29.09 PKR 8,071

33.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$8.93 PKR 2,478

-55.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.01 PKR 1,390

34.53%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

936.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

187.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$23.55 PKR 6,532

130.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

12.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

86.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$277 PKR 76.8K

76.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$144 PKR 40.0K

100.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$577 PKR 160.1K

54.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$266 PKR 73.9K

94.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

19.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$829 PKR 230.1K

78.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$381 PKR 105.8K

57.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.08

-57.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $277 in Islamabad. 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 58% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $103 in Islamabad – so Islamabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Islamabad, 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 $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, 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 $75.0 in Islamabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Islamabad 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. Islamabad costs $589 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 Islamabad. 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.