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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $387 per month in Gilgit vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Gilgit vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Gilgit vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Gilgit is about 27% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 499

$2.89 PKR 804

-38.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.46 PKR 2,907

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-25.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,113

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-25.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.75 PKR 487

3.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,011

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-8.31%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 399

$2.02 PKR 561

-28.71%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.8

$0.39 PKR 110

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 210

$1.02 PKR 284

-25.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.66 PKR 184

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.27 PKR 353

-8.66%

Eggs

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.23 PKR 341

4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.85 PKR 1,069

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 PKR 838

$3.41 PKR 948

-11.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 PKR 1,015

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-19.43%

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.03 PKR 288

-47.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.84 PKR 233

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.90 PKR 251

-25.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.55 PKR 153

-9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.56 PKR 156

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.30 PKR 84.6

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.41 PKR 113

17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.44 PKR 400

$1.99 PKR 553

-27.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.93 PKR 257

-1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

$2.01 PKR 560

-2.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 PKR 558

$2.15 PKR 598

-6.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.79

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,014

$6.95 PKR 1,933

4.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.85 PKR 236

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.81 PKR 781

-37.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.95 PKR 264

-4.21%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

1.88%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-12.95%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-10.26%

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

$2.00 PKR 556

$5.36 PKR 1,492

-62.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.52 PKR 3,760

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-27.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,476

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-43.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,655

$5.89 PKR 1,638

1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 965

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-20.05%

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

$14.30 PKR 3,976

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-75.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,119 PKR 311.1K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-59.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.99 PKR 4,168

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-29.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.42 PKR 6,232

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-19.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-21.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.14 PKR 8,101

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-26.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-62.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-52.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-67.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-64.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 PKR 249.6K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-42.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 PKR 133.8K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-25.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.7K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-51.81%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.2 in Gilgit versus $201 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 108% 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 $10.00 in Gilgit versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $100 – 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 38% 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 $580 per month in Gilgit and $799 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 23% 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 $10.00 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 $387 in Gilgit and $533 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.