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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Islamabad is about 38% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.96 ฿65.9

45.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$18.35 ฿617

-22.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$7.48 ฿252

-27.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.02 ฿67.8

-2.48%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.85 ฿28.52

-52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.36 ฿11.97

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$1.65 ฿55.5

-41.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$1.57 ฿52.7

-57.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.19 ฿40.05

7.56%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.94 ฿65.1

-38.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$16.19 ฿545

-62.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.99 ฿101

12.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$10.94 ฿368

-60.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.71 ฿91.2

-61.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.17 ฿39.27

-28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.69 ฿56.8

-46.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.60 ฿54.0

-65.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.38 ฿46.56

-70.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$1.20 ฿40.47

-52.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.67 ฿22.51

-53.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.56 ฿18.74

-26.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$4.64 ฿156

-53.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.88 ฿29.70

-80.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$19.34 ฿651

-62.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.36 ฿45.92

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$1.34 ฿45.00

-67.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$8.21 ฿276

-66.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.22 ฿41.20

-19.67%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-2.12%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

15.14%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$70.7 ฿2,378

60.89%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$14.04 ฿472

-61.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$17.49 ฿589

6.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$42.15 ฿1,418

-47.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$6.88 ฿231

-11.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$5.92 ฿199

-30.07%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$309 ฿10.4K

-80.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-81.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$55.8 ฿1,876

-62.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$26.11 ฿879

5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$83.0 ฿2,793

5.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$70.5 ฿2,371

-41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$432 ฿14.5K

-53.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$239 ฿8,040

-53.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$822 ฿27.7K

-38.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$512 ฿17.2K

-41.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-20.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-55.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$579 ฿19.5K

-33.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

304.00%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $432 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 50% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $243 – 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 61% 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. 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 $60.2 per month in Islamabad and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $534 in Islamabad and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Islamabad costs $534 versus $861 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.