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 $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $581 per month in Gilgit vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Gilgit vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Gilgit is about 28% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 495

$2.89 PKR 803

-38.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,948

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-24.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PKR 1,146

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-23.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.76 PKR 488

2.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-4.22%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 418

$1.98 PKR 550

-23.74%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.6

$0.39 PKR 108

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.22 PKR 60.8

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$1.02 PKR 284

-24.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.62 PKR 172

-3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.22 PKR 339

-1.64%

Eggs

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.22 PKR 338

7.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,097

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-34.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$3.37 PKR 936

-10.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,037

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-16.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.00 PKR 278

-48.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.84 PKR 233

-39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.93 PKR 259

-30.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.57 PKR 157

-12.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.58 PKR 160

10.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.33 PKR 91.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.37 PKR 104

27.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

$1.90 PKR 528

-24.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.85 PKR 236

8.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.96 PKR 543

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.10 PKR 584

-6.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.5

$0.16 PKR 43.35

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,008

$7.18 PKR 1,993

0.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.84 PKR 233

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.44 PKR 122

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$2.87 PKR 796

-36.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.93 PKR 257

-3.23%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

0.93%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-14.55%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-10.63%

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

$1.89 PKR 526

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-64.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.94 PKR 3,870

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-25.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,468

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-45.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,693

$6.02 PKR 1,671

1.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-16.78%

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

$13.89 PKR 3,855

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-77.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-59.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 PKR 4,185

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-28.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.07 PKR 6,127

$28.13 PKR 7,807

-21.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.80 PKR 7,993

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-28.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-62.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-67.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-64.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$892 PKR 247.5K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-43.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 PKR 133.3K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-25.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$387 PKR 107.5K

-53.69%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.9 in Gilgit versus $197 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 116% 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: $82.0 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 38% 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 $577 per month in Gilgit and $798 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 21% 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 $532 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.