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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 71.1% more expensive than Islamabad without rent, and 63.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 73% more expensive than Islamabad without rent, and 56.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.5

$2.76 PKR 771

-27.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿584

$14.25 PKR 3,975

27.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$5.32 PKR 1,485

43.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 482

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,109

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.5

$2.08 PKR 581

-7.69%

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

$0.84 ฿26.97

$0.42 PKR 118

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.42

$0.24 PKR 67.2

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.5

$0.97 PKR 269

69.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.0

$0.66 PKR 185

145.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.98

$1.26 PKR 352

-8.73%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.2

$1.27 PKR 355

52.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿511

$6.02 PKR 1,680

164.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.5

$3.43 PKR 958

-9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿355

$4.40 PKR 1,227

151.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.8

$1.00 PKR 279

171.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.80

$0.85 PKR 236

38.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.7

$0.90 PKR 251

90.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$0.57 PKR 158

182.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.66

$0.38 PKR 106

265.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.81

$0.57 PKR 160

101.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.83

$0.33 PKR 93.0

115.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.65

$0.37 PKR 104

48.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 534

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 255

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 566

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$2.06 PKR 576

121.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.24

$0.18 PKR 50.4

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

$6.90 PKR 1,924

173.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.30

$0.91 PKR 253

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.71

$0.40 PKR 112

225.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿263

$2.87 PKR 801

185.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.29

$0.92 PKR 258

33.70%

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

$21.2K ฿678.9K

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

1.29%

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

$22.3K ฿715.3K

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-14.69%

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

$69.9 ฿2,240

$111 PKR 31.1K

-37.26%

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

$14.07 ฿451

$5.57 PKR 1,555

152.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿567

$18.70 PKR 5,217

-5.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,328

$22.29 PKR 6,219

85.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿215

$5.86 PKR 1,634

14.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$4.30 PKR 1,200

33.49%

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

$299 ฿9,593

$60.6 PKR 16.9K

393.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿481.2K

$2,738 PKR 763.9K

448.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,758

$21.38 PKR 5,964

156.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿845

$28.45 PKR 7,935

-7.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,714

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

-5.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,236

$40.17 PKR 11.2K

73.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$197 PKR 55.0K

116.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,718

$111 PKR 31.1K

116.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.0K

$505 PKR 140.8K

60.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$292 PKR 81.6K

70.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

$1,535 PKR 428.1K

31.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

$752 PKR 209.7K

102.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

$304 PKR 84.7K

110.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-75.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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