Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $385 per month in Gilgit vs $497 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Gilgit vs $750 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $780 per month in Gilgit vs $1,003 in Lahore, rent included.

Gilgit is about 22% cheaper than Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 506

$2.10 PKR 587

-13.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.79 PKR 3,012

$13.95 PKR 3,893

-22.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,156

$4.30 PKR 1,200

-3.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.85 PKR 797

-36.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$3.76 PKR 1,051

-3.72%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 400

$2.37 PKR 661

-39.66%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.33 PKR 91.8

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.5

$0.21 PKR 58.5

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.96 PKR 267

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.57 PKR 158

3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 322

$1.20 PKR 336

-4.17%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 347

$1.16 PKR 322

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$5.87 PKR 1,640

-32.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 PKR 838

$3.04 PKR 849

-1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.61 PKR 1,008

$4.61 PKR 1,286

-21.69%

Apples (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.06 PKR 296

-51.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.65 PKR 181

-21.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.58 PKR 161

12.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.45 PKR 125

15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.33 PKR 91.1

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$0.48 PKR 134

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.44 PKR 123

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.35 PKR 98.7

34.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

$0.71 PKR 197

73.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.56 PKR 155

64.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 554

$1.08 PKR 301

84.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 533

$1.97 PKR 551

-3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 57.1

$0.16 PKR 45.22

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,922

$6.94 PKR 1,939

-0.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.72 PKR 201

19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.49 PKR 138

-10.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 485

$1.79 PKR 499

-2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.90 PKR 252

7.78%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

22.54%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

0.68%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$138 PKR 38.6K

-25.43%

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

$1.93 PKR 539

$5.46 PKR 1,523

-64.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,804

$17.33 PKR 4,838

-21.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,443

$13.41 PKR 3,742

-8.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 PKR 1,665

$5.80 PKR 1,620

2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$4.23 PKR 1,180

-14.42%

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

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$35.14 PKR 9,809

-59.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 PKR 311.6K

$1,221 PKR 340.7K

-8.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.95 PKR 4,173

$15.11 PKR 4,218

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.52 PKR 6,285

$22.95 PKR 6,405

-1.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

$73.5 PKR 20.5K

-6.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 PKR 8,101

$29.90 PKR 8,345

-2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.2K

$118 PKR 32.9K

-35.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

-31.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.3K

$284 PKR 79.3K

-40.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$188 PKR 52.5K

-44.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 PKR 227.0K

$812 PKR 226.6K

0.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$584 PKR 163.0K

$607 PKR 169.3K

-3.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 50.1K

$179 PKR 50.0K

0.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

-4.43%

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

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lahore: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Gilgit versus $118 in Lahore. 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 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 $14.00 in Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $93.0 – 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 Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore costs about 29% 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 $578 per month in Gilgit and $745 in Lahore. 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 16% more in Lahore, 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 Lahore. 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 $497 in Lahore, 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, Lahore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.