Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $387 per month in Gilgit vs $427 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Gilgit vs $665 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Gilgit vs $902 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 10% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 499

$1.75 PKR 485

2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.46 PKR 2,907

$14.18 PKR 3,942

-26.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,113

$5.18 PKR 1,441

-22.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.56 PKR 435

16.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,011

$3.42 PKR 951

6.43%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 399

$1.67 PKR 464

-13.77%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.8

$0.34 PKR 95.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.21 PKR 58.1

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 210

$0.80 PKR 221

-5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.29 PKR 358

-10.08%

Eggs

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.17 PKR 326

10.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.85 PKR 1,069

$6.08 PKR 1,690

-36.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 PKR 838

$3.33 PKR 926

-9.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 PKR 1,015

$4.52 PKR 1,256

-19.25%

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.99 PKR 275

-45.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.64 PKR 178

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.92 PKR 256

-27.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.51 PKR 141

-1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.36 PKR 100

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.49 PKR 136

30.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.24 PKR 66.7

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.40 PKR 110

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.44 PKR 400

$16.38 PKR 4,554

-91.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$1.02 PKR 285

-9.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

$2.28 PKR 635

-14.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 PKR 558

$1.90 PKR 530

5.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.79

$0.20 PKR 55.9

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,014

$9.52 PKR 2,646

-23.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.84 PKR 234

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.33 PKR 91.0

24.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$3.07 PKR 854

-42.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.91 PKR 254

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.9M

23.88%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

-0.86%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

0.11%

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

$2.00 PKR 556

$4.12 PKR 1,146

-51.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.52 PKR 3,760

$16.38 PKR 4,555

-17.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,476

$10.15 PKR 2,821

23.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,655

$7.73 PKR 2,150

-23.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 965

$3.61 PKR 1,005

-3.88%

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

$14.30 PKR 3,976

$40.70 PKR 11.3K

-64.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,119 PKR 311.1K

$965 PKR 268.4K

15.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.99 PKR 4,168

$11.77 PKR 3,273

27.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.42 PKR 6,232

$18.65 PKR 5,184

20.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

$89.8 PKR 25.0K

-23.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.14 PKR 8,101

$28.17 PKR 7,832

3.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$133 PKR 37.0K

-42.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

-19.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$333 PKR 92.6K

-49.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$172 PKR 47.9K

-39.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 PKR 249.6K

$1,130 PKR 314.2K

-20.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 PKR 133.8K

$511 PKR 142.1K

-5.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.7K

$173 PKR 48.2K

5.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-5.80%

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

Last update for Gilgit: June 7, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.2 in Gilgit versus $133 in Rawalpindi. 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 5% 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 $10.00 in Gilgit versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $95.0 – 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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 11% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $641 in Rawalpindi. 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 Rawalpindi, 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 Rawalpindi. 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 $427 in Rawalpindi, 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, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.