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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $382 per month in Gilgit vs $481 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $571 per month in Gilgit vs $735 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $760 per month in Gilgit vs $989 in Karachi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 21% 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

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.08 PKR 577

-16.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.65 PKR 2,957

$12.33 PKR 3,424

-13.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 PKR 1,119

$4.17 PKR 1,159

-3.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 PKR 506

$2.00 PKR 555

-9.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 PKR 987

$5.24 PKR 1,456

-32.25%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 399

$1.87 PKR 519

-22.99%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.37 PKR 102

-16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.21 PKR 58.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.81 PKR 224

-4.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.54 PKR 151

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.12 PKR 312

7.14%

Eggs

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.22 PKR 340

6.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.88 PKR 1,077

$6.40 PKR 1,776

-39.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.89 PKR 803

$3.25 PKR 904

-11.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 PKR 999

$5.06 PKR 1,403

-28.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$1.03 PKR 287

-50.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.59 PKR 163

-13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.87 PKR 242

-24.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.0

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.50 PKR 139

26.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.36 PKR 99.1

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 122

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

$1.25 PKR 346

1.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.28 PKR 354

-33.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 540

$2.16 PKR 599

-9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.13 PKR 592

-6.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.29

$0.34 PKR 94.2

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.06 PKR 1,959

$6.21 PKR 1,725

13.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.70 PKR 193

31.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.67 PKR 187

-40.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$1.82 PKR 505

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.87 PKR 242

11.49%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

28.93%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-9.39%

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

$100 PKR 27.8K

$132 PKR 36.7K

-24.31%

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

$1.92 PKR 534

$5.02 PKR 1,394

-61.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.89 PKR 3,857

$13.36 PKR 3,708

3.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,493

$15.80 PKR 4,386

-20.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 PKR 1,621

$14.58 PKR 4,048

-59.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.48 PKR 967

$4.29 PKR 1,190

-18.88%

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

$14.40 PKR 3,997

$57.6 PKR 16.0K

-74.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,107 PKR 307.3K

$1,373 PKR 381.2K

-19.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.45 PKR 4,290

$17.75 PKR 4,928

-12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.70 PKR 6,026

$25.14 PKR 6,980

-13.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

$65.0 PKR 18.1K

5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.75 PKR 8,259

$35.37 PKR 9,819

-15.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.4 PKR 20.9K

$122 PKR 33.9K

-38.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

-30.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.2K

$313 PKR 87.0K

-45.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$179 PKR 49.7K

-39.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$891 PKR 247.3K

$918 PKR 254.8K

-2.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$486 PKR 134.9K

$443 PKR 122.9K

9.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$178 PKR 49.5K

0.93%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.4 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 1% higher in Gilgit, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit versus $12.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 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 26% 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 $573 per month in Gilgit and $722 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 22% 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 $11.00 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 $382 in Gilgit and $481 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.