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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Gilgit vs $503 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Gilgit vs $776 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $867 per month in Gilgit vs $1,050 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 14% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Gilgit and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 69% lower, Rawalpindi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 PKR 419

$2.09 PKR 580

-27.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.97 PKR 3,039

$16.42 PKR 4,548

-33.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 PKR 1,536

$5.81 PKR 1,611

-4.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 PKR 713

$1.84 PKR 511

39.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$3.48 PKR 963

53.74%

Cappuccino

$1.47 PKR 407

$1.92 PKR 532

-23.44%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.2

$0.40 PKR 111

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-4.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.86 PKR 239

1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.59 PKR 163

6.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.20 PKR 333

-3.33%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.15 PKR 318

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$6.21 PKR 1,721

-2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 PKR 699

$3.47 PKR 962

-27.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 PKR 1,374

$5.18 PKR 1,436

-4.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.19 PKR 329

-5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.85 PKR 236

-30.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.27 PKR 352

-38.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.57 PKR 157

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 79.9

$0.38 PKR 107

-23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.0

$0.49 PKR 135

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.33 PKR 92.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.42 PKR 117

-11.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 492

$15.90 PKR 4,406

-88.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.18 PKR 327

-7.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PKR 685

$2.44 PKR 677

1.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 PKR 587

$1.94 PKR 539

9.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.21

$0.19 PKR 53.2

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.65 PKR 2,672

$10.07 PKR 2,789

-4.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 305

$0.94 PKR 261

17.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.34 PKR 93.9

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$3.14 PKR 869

-47.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.17 PKR 323

-5.13%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

22.57%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

4.25%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-8.07%

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

$2.12 PKR 587

$5.76 PKR 1,594

-63.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.45 PKR 4,002

$18.29 PKR 5,067

-21.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 PKR 4,119

$11.83 PKR 3,278

25.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.79 PKR 1,881

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,223

$4.30 PKR 1,191

2.56%

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

$14.58 PKR 4,038

$48.80 PKR 13.5K

-70.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,012 PKR 280.2K

$852 PKR 235.9K

18.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 PKR 4,146

$20.89 PKR 5,787

-28.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.53 PKR 6,241

$28.53 PKR 7,903

-21.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

-22.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.82 PKR 8,262

$35.66 PKR 9,879

-16.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 PKR 34.4K

$201 PKR 55.7K

-38.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

$82.3 PKR 22.8K

-5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$430 PKR 119.1K

-42.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.6K

$226 PKR 62.6K

-33.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$896 PKR 248.2K

$1,149 PKR 318.2K

-22.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.6K

$517 PKR 143.2K

-1.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$173 PKR 48.0K

2.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

22.81

-43.53%

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

Last update for Gilgit: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Gilgit versus $201 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 2% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $103 – 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 17% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $755 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 12% 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 $16.00 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 $431 in Gilgit and $503 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.