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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,160 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 36% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.85 PKR 791

-31.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$14.26 PKR 3,960

28.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.44 PKR 1,511

37.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.97 PKR 547

2.54%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.40 PKR 110

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.24 PKR 67.0

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.96 PKR 268

71.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.66 PKR 183

137.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.28 PKR 355

-7.03%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.20 PKR 334

61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$6.07 PKR 1,687

166.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.37 PKR 937

-11.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.35 PKR 1,209

151.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.04 PKR 289

160.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.84 PKR 234

39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.91 PKR 253

85.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.56 PKR 156

185.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.41 PKR 115

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.57 PKR 158

110.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.31 PKR 85.4

116.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.41 PKR 113

36.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.14 PKR 595

116.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.17 PKR 46.51

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$7.22 PKR 2,005

167.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.85 PKR 236

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.43 PKR 120

211.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.79 PKR 775

194.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.98 PKR 271

24.49%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

2.17%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-13.15%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$114 PKR 31.6K

-37.85%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.41 PKR 1,501

159.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-6.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$22.13 PKR 6,144

90.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.12 PKR 1,698

12.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.14 PKR 1,150

43.00%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

412.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

440.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$21.08 PKR 5,854

164.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-5.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-5.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

72.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$199 PKR 55.3K

117.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$110 PKR 30.5K

117.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$505 PKR 140.1K

62.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$299 PKR 83.0K

71.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

26.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$647 PKR 179.8K

126.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$385 PKR 106.9K

50.47%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $199 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 50% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $100 – making Islamabad 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 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $801 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $60.2 in Islamabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 145% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Islamabad costs $534 versus $861 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.