Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Lahore

For one person, living is cheaper in Gilgit: $447 a month against $510 in Lahore, rent and utilities included – about $760 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Gilgit, Pakistan
Lahore, Pakistan
Gilgit
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$447
/mo nomad
Lahore
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$510
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gilgit and in Lahore

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gilgit and in Lahore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $447 per month in Gilgit vs $510 in Lahore, rent included.

  • Gilgit $447
  • Lahore $510

A couple spends around $670 per month in Gilgit vs $777 in Lahore, rent included.

  • Gilgit $670
  • Lahore $777

A family of three spends $894 per month in Gilgit vs $1,045 in Lahore, rent included.

  • Gilgit $894
  • Lahore $1,045

Gilgit is about 12% cheaper than Lahore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Gilgit and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 67% lower, Lahore 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.49 PKR 411
$2.49 PKR 688
-40.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.71 PKR 2,962
$15.33 PKR 4,241
-30.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,473
$5.75 PKR 1,590
-7.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 PKR 690
$3.70 PKR 1,025
-32.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 PKR 1,407
$5.52 PKR 1,527
-7.79%
Cappuccino
$1.59 PKR 441
$2.53 PKR 699
-37.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.2
$0.38 PKR 104
-15.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 62.7
$0.26 PKR 72.4
-11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 223
$0.91 PKR 250
-10.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 PKR 172
$0.75 PKR 206
-17.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 312
$1.19 PKR 328
-5.04%
Eggs
$1.15 PKR 317
$1.20 PKR 333
-4.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.63 PKR 1,557
$5.99 PKR 1,657
-6.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.46 PKR 681
$2.57 PKR 710
-4.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.84 PKR 1,339
$4.85 PKR 1,343
-0.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.12 PKR 309
$1.20 PKR 333
-6.67%
Banana (1kg)
$0.58 PKR 160
$0.67 PKR 186
-13.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 PKR 216
$0.83 PKR 231
-6.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 143
$0.67 PKR 185
-22.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 77.3
$0.30 PKR 82.7
-6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.35 PKR 97.3
8.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 PKR 119
$0.45 PKR 124
-4.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 104
$0.37 PKR 103
2.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.89 PKR 522
$1.06 PKR 294
78.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 PKR 303
$0.61 PKR 170
78.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 PKR 674
$1.73 PKR 479
41.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 PKR 545
$2.11 PKR 585
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.69
$0.18 PKR 50.8
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.05 PKR 2,781
$6.15 PKR 1,700
63.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 PKR 295
$0.88 PKR 244
21.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 PKR 196
$0.73 PKR 203
-2.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 PKR 448
$1.78 PKR 492
-8.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 PKR 325
$1.39 PKR 384
-15.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K PKR 6.1M
$17.9K PKR 4.9M
22.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.4M
$24.8K PKR 6.9M
-6.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 PKR 27.8K
$120 PKR 33.1K
-16.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66 PKR 1,567
$5.53 PKR 1,529
2.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.23 PKR 3,936
$16.47 PKR 4,557
-13.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.85 PKR 4,107
$22.27 PKR 6,159
-33.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.85 PKR 2,173
$10.64 PKR 2,943
-26.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 PKR 1,176
$4.58 PKR 1,268
-7.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$42.28 PKR 11.7K
$99.4 PKR 27.5K
-57.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,047 PKR 289.7K
$5,418 PKR 1.5M
-80.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.72 PKR 4,625
$17.55 PKR 4,854
-4.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.58 PKR 6,246
$23.79 PKR 6,580
-5.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 PKR 18.7K
$72.8 PKR 20.1K
-7.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.35 PKR 8,948
$30.32 PKR 8,386
6.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$134 PKR 37.2K
$173 PKR 47.8K
-22.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$86.0 PKR 23.8K
$94.5 PKR 26.1K
-8.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 PKR 75.2K
$344 PKR 95.3K
-21.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 PKR 49.2K
$209 PKR 57.9K
-15.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$810 PKR 224.2K
$818 PKR 226.4K
-0.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$499 PKR 138.0K
$585 PKR 161.8K
-14.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gilgit
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$193 PKR 53.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
13.94
-6.74%

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

Last update for Gilgit: November 1, 2026

Last update for Lahore: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gilgit
$120
Lahore
$142 17.6% $21
Groceries & Markets
Gilgit
$90
Lahore
$96 7.1% $6.3
Accommodation & Living
Gilgit
$86
Lahore
$94 9.9% $8.5
Clothing & Footwear
Gilgit
$63
Lahore
$65 3.8% $2.3
Eating Out
Gilgit
$49
Lahore
$70 42.4% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Gilgit
$23
Lahore
$31 34.6% $8.1
Getting Around
Gilgit
$15
Lahore
$11 25.2% $3.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $134 in Gilgit versus $173 in Lahore. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Gilgit versus $15 in Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $90 vs $96 – making Gilgit the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Gilgit
🇵🇰 Lahore
🕒 Local time
23:22 11:22 PM
23:22 11:22 PM
Same time as Gilgit
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
216,760
11,126,285
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gilgit Lahore 480 km
From you
  • Gilgit
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Gilgit or Lahore?
Lahore costs about 14% more than Gilgit, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gilgit and in Lahore?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $670 per month in Gilgit and $765 in Lahore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gilgit or Lahore?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilgit, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $134 there versus $173 in Lahore.
Are groceries more expensive in Gilgit or in Lahore?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Lahore, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Gilgit and in Lahore?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Gilgit and $15 in Lahore. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Gilgit or in Lahore?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $447 in Gilgit and $510 in Lahore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.

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