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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $387 per month in Gilgit vs $490 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Gilgit vs $746 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Gilgit vs $1,001 in Lahore, rent included.

Gilgit is about 21% cheaper than Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gilgit and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 499

$2.13 PKR 593

-15.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.46 PKR 2,907

$13.90 PKR 3,864

-24.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,113

$4.31 PKR 1,197

-7.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.81 PKR 781

-35.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,011

$3.62 PKR 1,005

0.55%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 399

$2.29 PKR 638

-37.12%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.8

$0.35 PKR 98.0

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 210

$0.94 PKR 261

-19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.57 PKR 159

5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.22 PKR 339

-4.92%

Eggs

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.21 PKR 336

6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.85 PKR 1,069

$5.96 PKR 1,656

-35.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 PKR 838

$3.05 PKR 849

-1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 PKR 1,015

$4.58 PKR 1,274

-20.31%

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.06 PKR 294

-49.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.63 PKR 176

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.61 PKR 170

9.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.48 PKR 134

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.33 PKR 91.4

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.49 PKR 136

30.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.47 PKR 132

-29.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.36 PKR 99.6

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.44 PKR 400

$0.92 PKR 255

56.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.55 PKR 152

67.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

$1.12 PKR 311

74.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 PKR 558

$1.97 PKR 549

2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.79

$0.20 PKR 55.6

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,014

$7.03 PKR 1,956

2.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.70 PKR 194

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.52 PKR 145

-21.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.81 PKR 503

-2.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.89 PKR 249

2.25%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

21.48%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

-4.36%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$136 PKR 37.9K

-26.41%

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

$2.00 PKR 556

$5.57 PKR 1,548

-64.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.52 PKR 3,760

$17.55 PKR 4,879

-22.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,476

$13.25 PKR 3,683

-5.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,655

$6.05 PKR 1,682

-1.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 965

$4.18 PKR 1,162

-16.99%

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

$14.30 PKR 3,976

$34.74 PKR 9,660

-58.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,119 PKR 311.1K

$1,222 PKR 339.8K

-8.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.99 PKR 4,168

$15.27 PKR 4,245

-1.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.42 PKR 6,232

$23.23 PKR 6,458

-3.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

-6.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.14 PKR 8,101

$30.05 PKR 8,355

-3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$120 PKR 33.3K

-36.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

-30.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$288 PKR 80.2K

-41.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$190 PKR 52.9K

-44.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 PKR 249.6K

$842 PKR 234.1K

6.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 PKR 133.8K

$604 PKR 168.1K

-20.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.7K

-0.04%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lahore: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.2 in Gilgit versus $120 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 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 $10.00 in Gilgit versus $14.00 in Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $94.0 – 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 27% 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 $580 per month in Gilgit and $736 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 15% 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 $10.00 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 $387 in Gilgit and $490 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.