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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Gilgit vs $511 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $783 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $867 per month in Gilgit vs $1,055 in Lahore, rent included.

Gilgit is about 16% cheaper than Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 69% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 PKR 419

$2.56 PKR 708

-41.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.97 PKR 3,039

$14.52 PKR 4,022

-24.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 PKR 1,536

$5.64 PKR 1,563

-1.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 PKR 713

$3.61 PKR 1,001

-28.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$5.50 PKR 1,524

-2.73%

Cappuccino

$1.47 PKR 407

$2.66 PKR 738

-44.74%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.2

$0.42 PKR 117

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.24 PKR 65.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.91 PKR 252

-4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.68 PKR 188

-7.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.22 PKR 338

-4.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.22 PKR 338

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$6.37 PKR 1,764

-5.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 PKR 699

$2.51 PKR 696

0.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 PKR 1,374

$4.80 PKR 1,331

3.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.16 PKR 322

-3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.65 PKR 181

-9.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.90 PKR 250

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.62 PKR 172

-16.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 79.9

$0.30 PKR 83.5

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.35 PKR 97.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.46 PKR 128

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.36 PKR 100

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 492

$1.06 PKR 295

67.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.64 PKR 178

70.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PKR 685

$1.73 PKR 478

42.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 PKR 587

$2.13 PKR 590

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.21

$0.17 PKR 46.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.65 PKR 2,672

$5.48 PKR 1,518

76.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 305

$0.92 PKR 256

19.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 205

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.83 PKR 508

-9.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.28 PKR 354

-13.28%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

21.95%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

-6.73%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$129 PKR 35.6K

-19.78%

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

$2.12 PKR 587

$5.08 PKR 1,408

-58.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.45 PKR 4,002

$16.23 PKR 4,496

-10.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 PKR 4,119

$21.31 PKR 5,905

-30.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,223

$4.39 PKR 1,217

0.46%

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

$14.58 PKR 4,038

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

-68.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,012 PKR 280.2K

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

-48.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 PKR 4,146

$17.31 PKR 4,795

-13.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.53 PKR 6,241

$26.36 PKR 7,302

-14.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

-2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.82 PKR 8,262

$31.11 PKR 8,619

-4.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 PKR 34.4K

$159 PKR 44.1K

-21.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

-5.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$334 PKR 92.7K

-25.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.6K

$197 PKR 54.7K

-23.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$896 PKR 248.2K

$781 PKR 216.3K

14.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.6K

$597 PKR 165.3K

-14.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$190 PKR 52.7K

-6.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Gilgit: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Gilgit versus $159 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 7% 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 $15.00 in Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $96.0 – 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 19% 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 $646 per month in Gilgit and $767 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 4% 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 $15.00 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 $431 in Gilgit and $511 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.