Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $392 per month in Gilgit vs $477 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $580 per month in Gilgit vs $727 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $768 per month in Gilgit vs $978 in Karachi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 18% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 485

$2.14 PKR 596

-18.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.44 PKR 2,906

$12.44 PKR 3,462

-16.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$4.06 PKR 1,129

1.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.99 PKR 553

-13.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 PKR 995

$5.22 PKR 1,452

-31.42%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.89 PKR 525

-23.81%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.3

$0.36 PKR 101

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 214

$0.83 PKR 231

-7.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.58 PKR 161

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.13 PKR 315

6.19%

Eggs

$1.30 PKR 363

$1.21 PKR 337

7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 PKR 1,055

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-39.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 PKR 831

$3.19 PKR 887

-6.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 1,000

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-26.88%

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.03 PKR 288

-47.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.58 PKR 162

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.93 PKR 258

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.39 PKR 108

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.51 PKR 141

25.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.38 PKR 107

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.43 PKR 120

9.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 381

$1.28 PKR 356

7.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 254

$1.26 PKR 351

-27.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 563

$2.08 PKR 580

-2.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.08 PKR 580

-6.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.45

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.27 PKR 2,023

$6.33 PKR 1,762

14.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.74 PKR 205

24.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.61 PKR 171

-32.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.79 PKR 497

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

28.60%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-7.16%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-24.30%

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

$1.94 PKR 539

$4.90 PKR 1,363

-60.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,778

$13.63 PKR 3,792

-0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.26 PKR 3,411

$15.55 PKR 4,327

-21.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 PKR 1,677

$14.33 PKR 3,987

-57.92%

Cinema Ticket

$3.56 PKR 990

$4.33 PKR 1,204

-17.78%

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

$13.97 PKR 3,888

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-75.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,091 PKR 303.6K

$1,402 PKR 390.0K

-22.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 PKR 4,228

$17.73 PKR 4,934

-14.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.71 PKR 6,041

$25.51 PKR 7,099

-14.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

$64.2 PKR 17.9K

7.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.99 PKR 8,067

$35.86 PKR 9,979

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-38.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-29.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$323 PKR 89.9K

-48.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-41.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,002 PKR 278.8K

$985 PKR 274.0K

1.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$457 PKR 127.3K

12.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 50.2K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-0.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

6.74%

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

Last update for Gilgit: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 in Gilgit versus $122 in Karachi. 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 0% higher in Karachi, 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 $12.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $81.0 vs $97.0 – 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 Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 22% more than Gilgit, 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 $588 per month in Gilgit and $715 in Karachi. 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 20% more in Karachi, 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 $12.00 in Karachi. 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 $392 in Gilgit and $477 in Karachi, 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, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.