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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $392 per month in Gilgit vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $580 per month in Gilgit vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $768 per month in Gilgit vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gilgit is about 55% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 485

$1.94 ฿63.8

-10.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.44 PKR 2,906

$18.64 ฿611

-43.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$7.82 ฿256

-47.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 PKR 995

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.95 ฿64.1

-26.15%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.3

$0.85 ฿27.88

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.35 ฿11.63

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 214

$1.71 ฿56.2

-54.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$1.63 ฿53.4

-63.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.14 ฿37.30

5.26%

Eggs

$1.30 PKR 363

$1.93 ฿63.4

-32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 PKR 1,055

$16.21 ฿532

-76.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 PKR 831

$3.12 ฿102

-4.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 1,000

$10.90 ฿357

-67.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$2.75 ฿90.3

-80.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.21 ฿39.68

-57.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$1.62 ฿53.2

-62.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.59 ฿52.0

-67.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$1.40 ฿45.89

-72.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$1.17 ฿38.32

-45.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.66 ฿21.69

-53.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.53 ฿17.29

-11.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 381

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 254

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 563

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$4.69 ฿154

-58.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.45

$0.90 ฿29.37

-81.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.27 PKR 2,023

$19.21 ฿630

-62.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.41 ฿46.10

-34.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$1.29 ฿42.29

-68.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 503

$7.84 ฿257

-76.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.27 ฿41.75

-28.35%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.3K ฿697.7K

-0.87%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$22.2K ฿728.3K

2.30%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$69.1 ฿2,265

45.00%

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

$1.94 PKR 539

$14.08 ฿462

-86.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,778

$18.00 ฿590

-24.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.26 PKR 3,411

$41.06 ฿1,346

-70.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 PKR 1,677

$6.96 ฿228

-13.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.56 PKR 990

$5.92 ฿194

-39.86%

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

$13.97 PKR 3,888

$299 ฿9,805

-95.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,091 PKR 303.6K

$15.0K ฿490.3K

-92.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 PKR 4,228

$54.7 ฿1,794

-72.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.71 PKR 6,041

$26.77 ฿878

-18.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

$85.0 ฿2,787

-18.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.99 PKR 8,067

$70.6 ฿2,315

-58.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

-82.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

$237 ฿7,782

-78.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$801 ฿26.3K

-79.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$515 ฿16.9K

-79.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,002 PKR 278.8K

$1,975 ฿64.7K

-49.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$1,475 ฿48.4K

-65.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 50.2K

$617 ฿20.2K

-70.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

280.00%

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

Last update for Gilgit: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 in Gilgit versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 242% 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 $10.00 in Gilgit versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $81.0 vs $246 – making Gilgit 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

Gilgit vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Gilgit, 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 $588 per month in Gilgit and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilgit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $13.97 per month in Gilgit and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 204% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $392 in Gilgit and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $392 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 Gilgit. 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.