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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $385 per month in Gilgit vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Gilgit vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $780 per month in Gilgit vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Gilgit is about 69% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 PKR 506
$4.63 ฿151
-60.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.79 PKR 3,012
$46.84 ฿1,523
-76.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.14 PKR 1,156
$8.84 ฿287
-53.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 PKR 504
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 PKR 1,010
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.43 PKR 400
$3.00 ฿97.4
-52.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.9
$0.74 ฿24.11
-56.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.5
$0.37 ฿11.88
-37.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44 ฿79.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61 ฿117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 PKR 201
$2.26 ฿73.5
-68.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 165
$1.84 ฿59.8
-67.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 PKR 322
$2.24 ฿73.0
-48.66%
Eggs
$1.24 PKR 347
$2.32 ฿75.3
-46.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.95 PKR 1,101
$19.67 ฿639
-79.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 PKR 838
$3.65 ฿119
-17.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.61 PKR 1,008
$13.10 ฿426
-72.44%
Apples (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 143
$3.39 ฿110
-84.96%
Banana (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 143
$1.64 ฿53.4
-68.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.65 PKR 182
$2.41 ฿78.5
-73.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 144
$2.03 ฿66.0
-74.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 97.3
$1.56 ฿50.6
-77.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 PKR 169
$1.50 ฿48.66
-60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 92.4
$1.02 ฿33.30
-67.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 PKR 132
$0.49 ฿15.91
-4.08%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.23 PKR 344
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 PKR 257
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 PKR 554
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91 PKR 533
$4.45 ฿145
-57.08%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.88 ฿614
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78 ฿57.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75 ฿89.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 57.1
$1.40 ฿45.54
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.89 PKR 1,922
$11.48 ฿373
-39.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 240
$3.12 ฿101
-72.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 122
$1.00 ฿32.48
-56.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 PKR 485
$14.09 ฿458
-87.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 271
$1.35 ฿43.93
-28.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K PKR 6.0M
$27.2K ฿883.7K
-21.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K PKR 6.5M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-29.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.7K
$125 ฿4,063
-17.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.93 PKR 539
$13.57 ฿441
-85.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.63 PKR 3,804
$18.52 ฿602
-26.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.33 PKR 3,443
$61.5 ฿1,999
-79.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97 PKR 1,665
$16.84 ฿547
-64.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62 PKR 1,010
$9.19 ฿299
-60.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$14.35 PKR 4,006
$698 ฿22.7K
-97.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,116 PKR 311.6K
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-92.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.95 PKR 4,173
$57.8 ฿1,878
-74.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.52 PKR 6,285
$35.24 ฿1,146
-36.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 PKR 19.2K
$113 ฿3,677
-39.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.02 PKR 8,101
$86.4 ฿2,808
-66.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$75.9 PKR 21.2K
$616 ฿20.0K
-87.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.3 PKR 14.6K
$446 ฿14.5K
-88.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$169 PKR 47.3K
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-91.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$104 PKR 29.0K
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-93.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$813 PKR 227.0K
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-78.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$584 PKR 163.0K
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-77.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gilgit
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$179 PKR 50.1K
$524 ฿17.0K
-65.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19
5.33
256.47%

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

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Gilgit versus $616 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 192% 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 $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $292 – 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 220% 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 vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $578 per month in Gilgit and $1,847 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 Phuket?
Groceries cost about 263% 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 vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit and $47.00 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 Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $385, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $385 versus $1,232 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 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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