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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $446 per month in Gilgit vs $457 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $728 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Gilgit vs $999 in Karachi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 2% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 68% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 PKR 415

$2.20 PKR 611

-31.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.99 PKR 3,048

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-23.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 PKR 1,551

$5.27 PKR 1,462

6.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 PKR 695

$2.14 PKR 593

17.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 PKR 1,251

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-38.72%

Cappuccino

$1.33 PKR 368

$2.20 PKR 610

-39.55%

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

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.33 PKR 92.3

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.0

$0.23 PKR 63.3

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.89 PKR 248

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.52 PKR 145

11.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.24 PKR 345

-1.61%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.21 PKR 335

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 PKR 1,606

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-6.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.50 PKR 694

$3.03 PKR 841

-17.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,330

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-21.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.22 PKR 339

-1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.55 PKR 153

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.98 PKR 272

-19.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 164

-11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.3

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.31 PKR 85.2

16.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 PKR 89.2

$0.39 PKR 109

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.43 PKR 121

-20.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 501

$1.25 PKR 347

44.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.32 PKR 365

-7.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 642

$2.48 PKR 687

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 PKR 674

$1.79 PKR 496

35.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.15

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.91 PKR 2,471

$8.20 PKR 2,273

8.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.74 PKR 205

48.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.70 PKR 194

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 PKR 462

$2.20 PKR 609

-24.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.33 PKR 369

-15.79%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

28.46%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-21.93%

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

$112 PKR 31.0K

$104 PKR 28.8K

7.80%

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

$2.02 PKR 559

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-65.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.20 PKR 3,935

$12.86 PKR 3,565

10.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.25 PKR 4,228

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-24.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,161

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-4.77%

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

$14.41 PKR 3,994

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-71.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$938 PKR 259.9K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

-31.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.84 PKR 4,115

$14.81 PKR 4,106

0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.96 PKR 6,089

$21.90 PKR 6,071

0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 PKR 17.2K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-5.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.30 PKR 7,846

$35.81 PKR 9,926

-20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$111 PKR 30.8K

14.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.7 PKR 21.5K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

9.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 PKR 68.9K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-16.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-15.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$918 PKR 254.5K

$976 PKR 270.7K

-5.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 141.9K

$467 PKR 129.6K

9.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-1.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Gilgit: September 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Gilgit versus $111 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 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 $11.00 in Gilgit versus $14.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91.0 vs $101 – 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 2% 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 $669 per month in Gilgit and $685 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 11% 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 $14.00 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 $446 in Gilgit and $457 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.