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 $431 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $581 per month in Gilgit vs $665 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Gilgit vs $899 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Gilgit is about 11% 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

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.79 PKR 497

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,948

$14.27 PKR 3,960

-25.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PKR 1,146

$5.26 PKR 1,460

-21.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.60 PKR 445

12.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

$3.42 PKR 950

6.14%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 418

$1.66 PKR 460

-9.04%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.6

$0.34 PKR 95.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.0

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.79 PKR 219

-2.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.30 PKR 361

-7.69%

Eggs

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.14 PKR 316

14.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,097

$5.98 PKR 1,660

-33.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$3.26 PKR 906

-7.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,037

$4.47 PKR 1,240

-16.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.02 PKR 283

-49.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.63 PKR 175

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.84 PKR 233

-22.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.50 PKR 139

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.37 PKR 102

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.52 PKR 144

23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.26 PKR 72.8

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.40 PKR 110

17.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

$15.96 PKR 4,429

-91.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

$1.02 PKR 284

-9.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.37 PKR 658

-13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.92 PKR 533

2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.5

$0.20 PKR 56.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,008

$9.59 PKR 2,663

-24.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.85 PKR 235

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 90.0

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$3.09 PKR 858

-41.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.95 PKR 264

-5.26%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

21.55%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

-1.73%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

0.23%

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

$1.89 PKR 526

$3.96 PKR 1,100

-52.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.94 PKR 3,870

$16.35 PKR 4,537

-14.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,468

$9.86 PKR 2,737

26.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,693

$7.42 PKR 2,060

-17.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$3.57 PKR 990

1.40%

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

$13.89 PKR 3,855

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

-66.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

$963 PKR 267.2K

16.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 PKR 4,185

$11.74 PKR 3,258

28.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.07 PKR 6,127

$18.96 PKR 5,263

16.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-22.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.80 PKR 7,993

$29.12 PKR 8,081

-1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

-20.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$334 PKR 92.8K

-50.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-38.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$892 PKR 247.5K

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

-21.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 PKR 133.3K

$510 PKR 141.6K

-5.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$176 PKR 48.7K

2.15%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.9 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 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi. 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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 12% 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 $577 per month in Gilgit and $646 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 14% 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 $431 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.