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 $491 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $581 per month in Gilgit vs $733 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Gilgit vs $974 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

$1.78 PKR 495

$2.06 PKR 573

-13.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,948

$14.19 PKR 3,938

-25.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PKR 1,146

$4.30 PKR 1,193

-3.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.76 PKR 765

-34.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

$3.65 PKR 1,012

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 418

$2.28 PKR 633

-33.77%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.6

$0.33 PKR 91.2

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.23 PKR 64.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.87 PKR 242

-11.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.22 PKR 337

-1.64%

Eggs

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.22 PKR 339

7.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,097

$6.05 PKR 1,679

-34.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$2.97 PKR 824

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,037

$4.58 PKR 1,271

-18.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.07 PKR 296

-51.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.60 PKR 168

-15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.61 PKR 170

6.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.47 PKR 131

6.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.32 PKR 90.0

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.49 PKR 135

30.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.45 PKR 124

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.36 PKR 99.1

30.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

$1.10 PKR 306

30.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.55 PKR 152

67.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.06 PKR 295

92.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.99 PKR 553

-1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.5

$0.18 PKR 49.62

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,008

$7.25 PKR 2,011

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.73 PKR 201

23.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.49 PKR 137

-12.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$1.80 PKR 499

1.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.90 PKR 250

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

19.08%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

-3.05%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-28.46%

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

$1.89 PKR 526

$5.33 PKR 1,480

-64.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.94 PKR 3,870

$17.36 PKR 4,819

-19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,468

$13.27 PKR 3,683

-5.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,693

$5.82 PKR 1,615

4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.28 PKR 1,187

-15.42%

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

$13.89 PKR 3,855

$35.23 PKR 9,779

-60.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

-8.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 PKR 4,185

$15.42 PKR 4,279

-2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.07 PKR 6,127

$23.35 PKR 6,482

-5.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

-6.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.80 PKR 7,993

$30.02 PKR 8,331

-4.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$121 PKR 33.5K

-37.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

-31.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$291 PKR 80.9K

-42.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$187 PKR 52.0K

-42.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$892 PKR 247.5K

$846 PKR 234.7K

5.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 PKR 133.3K

$598 PKR 166.0K

-19.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$184 PKR 51.1K

-2.48%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.9 in Gilgit versus $121 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 3% higher in Lahore, 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 Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 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 28% 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 $577 per month in Gilgit and $737 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 13% 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 $491 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.