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 $446 per month in Gilgit vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Gilgit vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gilgit is about 53% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 68% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 PKR 415

$2.08 ฿68.5

-27.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.99 PKR 3,048

$19.64 ฿646

-44.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 PKR 1,551

$5.65 ฿186

-1.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 PKR 695

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 PKR 1,251

Cappuccino

$1.33 PKR 368

$1.81 ฿59.3

-26.52%

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

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.71 ฿23.44

-54.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.0

$0.32 ฿10.38

-21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 228

$1.96 ฿64.4

-58.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$1.50 ฿49.38

-61.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.34 ฿43.92

-8.96%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 342

$2.26 ฿74.4

-45.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 PKR 1,606

$16.26 ฿534

-64.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.50 PKR 694

$2.95 ฿97.1

-15.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,330

$9.94 ฿327

-51.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$2.57 ฿84.5

-53.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.06 ฿34.72

-43.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 219

$1.61 ฿53.0

-50.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$1.52 ฿49.96

-65.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.3

$1.27 ฿41.76

-75.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$1.07 ฿35.05

-66.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 PKR 89.2

$0.72 ฿23.67

-55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.51 ฿16.72

-33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 501

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PKR 337

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 642

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 PKR 674

$4.19 ฿138

-42.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.15

$0.93 ฿30.42

-80.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.91 PKR 2,471

$53.9 ฿1,770

-83.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.23 ฿40.58

-10.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.58 ฿18.96

20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 PKR 462

$2.42 ฿79.7

-30.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.41 ฿46.42

-20.57%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$21.4K ฿704.9K

8.13%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$27.3K ฿898.5K

-21.26%

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

$112 PKR 31.0K

$63.7 ฿2,093

75.70%

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

$2.02 PKR 559

$12.85 ฿423

-84.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.20 PKR 3,935

$20.22 ฿665

-29.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.25 PKR 4,228

$38.74 ฿1,274

-60.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,161

$6.74 ฿221

-37.83%

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

$14.41 PKR 3,994

$778 ฿25.6K

-98.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$938 PKR 259.9K

$14.6K ฿480.2K

-93.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.84 PKR 4,115

$54.3 ฿1,785

-72.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.96 PKR 6,089

$25.45 ฿836

-13.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 PKR 17.2K

$94.3 ฿3,101

-34.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.30 PKR 7,846

$73.4 ฿2,414

-61.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$490 ฿16.1K

-74.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.7 PKR 21.5K

$289 ฿9,510

-73.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 PKR 68.9K

$894 ฿29.4K

-72.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$517 ฿17.0K

-70.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$918 PKR 254.5K

$1,955 ฿64.3K

-53.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 141.9K

$1,477 ฿48.5K

-65.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$602 ฿19.8K

-70.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

5.57

131.24%

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

Last update for Gilgit: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Gilgit versus $490 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 236% 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 $11.00 in Gilgit versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91.0 vs $240 – 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 113% 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 $669 per month in Gilgit and $1,421 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 $14.41 per month in Gilgit and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 166% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gilgit 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. Gilgit costs $446 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 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.