Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Gilgit vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $867 per month in Gilgit vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Gilgit is about 66% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 69% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51 PKR 419
$4.66 ฿154
-67.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.97 PKR 3,039
$32.22 ฿1,065
-65.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 PKR 1,536
$8.68 ฿287
-36.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 PKR 713
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35 PKR 1,483
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.47 PKR 407
$2.90 ฿95.8
-49.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 97.2
$0.84 ฿27.89
-58.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.7
$0.49 ฿16.16
-51.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.48 ฿82.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 241
$1.89 ฿62.3
-53.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 PKR 175
$1.41 ฿46.54
-55.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 PKR 322
$1.62 ฿53.6
-28.40%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 331
$2.24 ฿74.1
-46.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.05 PKR 1,677
$19.84 ฿656
-69.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.52 PKR 699
$3.48 ฿115
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.96 PKR 1,374
$11.37 ฿376
-56.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.12 PKR 309
$2.90 ฿95.8
-61.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 163
$1.72 ฿57.0
-65.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 PKR 216
$2.27 ฿75.1
-65.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 143
$2.13 ฿70.4
-75.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.29 PKR 79.9
$1.47 ฿48.72
-80.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 97.0
$1.42 ฿46.92
-75.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 92.6
$1.10 ฿36.25
-70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.60 ฿19.76
-38.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 492
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 PKR 303
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 PKR 685
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 PKR 587
$4.31 ฿142
-50.81%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.60 ฿615
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 ฿59.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97 ฿98.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 46.21
$2.25 ฿74.2
-92.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 PKR 2,672
$23.49 ฿776
-58.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 PKR 305
$3.10 ฿102
-64.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 PKR 190
$1.08 ฿35.56
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.65 PKR 458
$3.87 ฿128
-57.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 PKR 309
$1.43 ฿47.16
-22.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.0M
$27.8K ฿918.0K
-22.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K PKR 6.9M
$27.0K ฿891.5K
-7.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.6K
$105 ฿3,462
-1.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.12 PKR 587
$11.39 ฿376
-81.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.45 PKR 4,002
$17.54 ฿580
-17.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.87 PKR 4,119
$54.3 ฿1,795
-72.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.44 ฿378
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 PKR 1,223
$7.78 ฿257
-43.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$14.58 PKR 4,038
$576 ฿19.0K
-97.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,012 PKR 280.2K
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-91.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.96 PKR 4,146
$63.6 ฿2,103
-76.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.53 PKR 6,241
$29.10 ฿961
-22.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.2 PKR 20.0K
$96.2 ฿3,179
-24.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.82 PKR 8,262
$90.0 ฿2,974
-66.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$124 PKR 34.4K
$733 ฿24.2K
-83.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.2 PKR 21.7K
$501 ฿16.5K
-84.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$248 PKR 68.7K
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-88.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 PKR 41.6K
$1,252 ฿41.4K
-88.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$896 PKR 248.2K
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-74.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$511 PKR 141.6K
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-80.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$177 PKR 49.1K
$508 ฿16.8K
-65.06%
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 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Gilgit versus $733 in Phuket. 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 186% higher in Phuket, 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 $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $275 – 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gilgit or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 194% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gilgit and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $646 per month in Gilgit and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gilgit or Phuket?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Gilgit or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 198% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Gilgit and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gilgit or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Gilgit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gilgit or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $431 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gilgit compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Gilgit or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Gilgit. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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