Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Gilgit vs $604 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $939 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $867 per month in Gilgit vs $1,275 in Islamabad, rent included.

Gilgit is about 29% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 69% lower, Islamabad 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 PKR 419

$3.49 PKR 968

-56.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.97 PKR 3,039

$22.94 PKR 6,356

-52.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 PKR 1,536

$5.54 PKR 1,535

0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 PKR 713

$3.67 PKR 1,017

-29.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$6.69 PKR 1,854

-20.03%

Cappuccino

$1.47 PKR 407

$2.57 PKR 711

-42.80%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.2

$0.35 PKR 97.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.23 PKR 63.9

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.93 PKR 259

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.79 PKR 218

-20.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.24 PKR 344

-6.45%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.27 PKR 350

-5.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$6.18 PKR 1,712

-2.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 PKR 699

$3.17 PKR 879

-20.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 PKR 1,374

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-9.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.29 PKR 358

-13.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.86 PKR 239

-31.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.01 PKR 280

-22.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.49 PKR 134

6.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 79.9

$0.26 PKR 71.4

11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.33 PKR 90.2

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.28 PKR 76.6

17.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.40 PKR 110

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 492

$1.98 PKR 550

-10.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.19 PKR 330

-8.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PKR 685

$2.68 PKR 742

-7.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 PKR 587

$2.40 PKR 665

-11.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.21

$0.19 PKR 53.4

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.65 PKR 2,672

$21.97 PKR 6,086

-56.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.29 PKR 358

-14.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 206

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.57 PKR 435

5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.30 PKR 359

-14.62%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$53.1K PKR 14.7M

-59.24%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

2.65%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$102 PKR 28.4K

0.65%

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

$2.12 PKR 587

$5.83 PKR 1,616

-63.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.45 PKR 4,002

$15.65 PKR 4,336

-7.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 PKR 4,119

$27.66 PKR 7,662

-46.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.86 PKR 2,456

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,223

$4.31 PKR 1,194

2.32%

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

$14.58 PKR 4,038

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-80.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,012 PKR 280.2K

$5,069 PKR 1.4M

-80.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 PKR 4,146

$24.79 PKR 6,868

-39.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.53 PKR 6,241

$34.54 PKR 9,569

-34.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

$96.3 PKR 26.7K

-25.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.82 PKR 8,262

$39.98 PKR 11.1K

-25.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 PKR 34.4K

$270 PKR 74.7K

-53.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

$140 PKR 38.7K

-43.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$598 PKR 165.6K

-58.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.6K

$281 PKR 77.9K

-46.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$896 PKR 248.2K

$1,685 PKR 466.9K

-46.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.6K

$817 PKR 226.3K

-37.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$373 PKR 103.4K

-52.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Gilgit: September 6, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Gilgit versus $270 in Islamabad. 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 110% higher in Islamabad, 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $104 – 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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 40% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $646 per month in Gilgit and $905 in Islamabad. 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.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $431 in Gilgit and $604 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gilgit – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.