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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.80 PKR 779

-30.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$14.22 PKR 3,955

31.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.44 PKR 1,512

43.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.00 PKR 557

-2.50%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.43 PKR 119

97.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.22 PKR 61.1

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.94 PKR 260

81.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 PKR 173

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.21 PKR 338

-5.79%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.20 PKR 335

60.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.07 PKR 1,689

167.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.39 PKR 942

-7.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.38 PKR 1,218

148.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.03 PKR 287

166.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.78 PKR 216

55.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.93 PKR 260

74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.60 PKR 166

165.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.41 PKR 115

241.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.54 PKR 149

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.34 PKR 93.3

94.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.37 PKR 103

43.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.14 PKR 596

119.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.19 PKR 52.2

373.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.90 PKR 1,921

178.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.86 PKR 238

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.44 PKR 122

193.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.81 PKR 782

179.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.91 PKR 253

39.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-1.09%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-15.05%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$112 PKR 31.1K

-38.19%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.44 PKR 1,512

158.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-4.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$22.19 PKR 6,174

85.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.04 PKR 1,679

15.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.21 PKR 1,171

40.62%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

395.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

433.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$21.57 PKR 5,999

153.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-3.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

76.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$198 PKR 55.1K

116.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$112 PKR 31.1K

112.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$513 PKR 142.6K

56.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$296 PKR 82.3K

74.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

27.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$657 PKR 182.9K

124.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$387 PKR 107.8K

59.40%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $198 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 59% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $98.0 – 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 64% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $794 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $60.3 in Islamabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Islamabad costs $529 versus $866 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.