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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $385 per month in Gilgit vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Gilgit vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $780 per month in Gilgit vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Gilgit is about 29% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Gilgit and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 506

$2.87 PKR 802

-36.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.79 PKR 3,012

$14.22 PKR 3,968

-24.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,156

$5.23 PKR 1,461

-20.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.74 PKR 486

4.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$3.82 PKR 1,067

-5.24%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 400

$2.05 PKR 573

-30.24%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.39 PKR 109

-17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.5

$0.22 PKR 61.3

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.96 PKR 267

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.61 PKR 171

-3.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 322

$1.27 PKR 356

-9.45%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 347

$1.21 PKR 337

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-35.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 PKR 838

$3.49 PKR 975

-14.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.61 PKR 1,008

$4.39 PKR 1,226

-17.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.03 PKR 289

-50.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.82 PKR 230

-37.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.94 PKR 264

-30.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.56 PKR 155

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$0.53 PKR 147

13.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.33 PKR 92.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.37 PKR 104

27.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

$1.96 PKR 548

-37.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.92 PKR 256

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 554

$1.98 PKR 553

0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 533

$2.07 PKR 578

-7.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 57.1

$0.17 PKR 46.63

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,922

$6.98 PKR 1,948

-1.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.92 PKR 256

-6.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 485

$2.75 PKR 768

-36.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.98 PKR 274

-1.02%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

0.63%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-11.53%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-7.60%

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

$1.93 PKR 539

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-65.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,804

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-27.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,443

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-44.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 PKR 1,665

$5.85 PKR 1,632

2.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$4.14 PKR 1,155

-12.56%

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

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-76.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 PKR 311.6K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-59.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.95 PKR 4,173

$21.34 PKR 5,955

-29.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.52 PKR 6,285

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-20.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-23.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 PKR 8,101

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-29.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.2K

$200 PKR 55.8K

-62.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-53.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.3K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-66.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$288 PKR 80.5K

-63.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 PKR 227.0K

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

-46.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$584 PKR 163.0K

$740 PKR 206.6K

-21.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 50.1K

$307 PKR 85.8K

-41.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Gilgit versus $200 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 71% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $99.0 – 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 41% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $578 per month in Gilgit and $814 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 24% 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 $14.00 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 $385 in Gilgit and $543 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.