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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $385 per month in Gilgit vs $423 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Gilgit vs $670 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $780 per month in Gilgit vs $917 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 9% 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

$1.81 PKR 506

$1.75 PKR 488

3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.79 PKR 3,012

$14.30 PKR 3,990

-24.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,156

$5.38 PKR 1,503

-23.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.63 PKR 455

11.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$3.53 PKR 986

2.55%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 400

$1.71 PKR 477

-16.37%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.31 PKR 87.9

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.5

$0.21 PKR 58.4

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.85 PKR 238

-15.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.52 PKR 144

13.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 322

$1.29 PKR 360

-10.85%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 347

$1.18 PKR 329

5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$6.18 PKR 1,726

-36.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 PKR 838

$3.44 PKR 960

-12.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.61 PKR 1,008

$4.46 PKR 1,246

-19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.00 PKR 280

-49.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.64 PKR 177

-20.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.86 PKR 239

-24.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.48 PKR 134

8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.36 PKR 101

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$0.49 PKR 136

22.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.24 PKR 66.4

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.36 PKR 101

30.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

$15.92 PKR 4,443

-92.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.99 PKR 278

-7.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 554

$2.30 PKR 643

-13.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 533

$1.94 PKR 541

-1.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 57.1

$0.18 PKR 50.8

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,922

$9.95 PKR 2,777

-30.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.84 PKR 234

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.35 PKR 98.3

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 485

$3.07 PKR 857

-43.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

21.83%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-0.29%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

0.20%

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

$1.93 PKR 539

$3.95 PKR 1,102

-51.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,804

$16.31 PKR 4,551

-16.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,443

$9.99 PKR 2,788

23.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 PKR 1,665

$7.52 PKR 2,100

-20.61%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$3.64 PKR 1,016

-0.55%

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

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-64.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 PKR 311.6K

$953 PKR 266.0K

17.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.95 PKR 4,173

$11.64 PKR 3,250

28.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.52 PKR 6,285

$18.40 PKR 5,137

22.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

-22.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 PKR 8,101

$28.47 PKR 7,947

1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.2K

$130 PKR 36.3K

-41.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

-18.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.3K

$327 PKR 91.3K

-48.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$174 PKR 48.5K

-40.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 PKR 227.0K

$1,159 PKR 323.4K

-29.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$584 PKR 163.0K

$522 PKR 145.6K

11.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 50.1K

$174 PKR 48.4K

3.43%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Gilgit versus $130 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 3% 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 $11.00 in Gilgit versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 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 10% 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 $578 per month in Gilgit and $635 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 18% 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 $11.00 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 $385 in Gilgit and $423 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.