Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gilgit Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gilgit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $581 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $778 in Gilgit, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 38% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$1.78 PKR 495

62.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$10.62 PKR 2,948

32.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$4.13 PKR 1,146

31.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.80 PKR 500

-2.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$3.63 PKR 1,007

4.41%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.51 PKR 418

31.13%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.34 PKR 95.6

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.77 PKR 215

32.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.60 PKR 167

3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.20 PKR 333

1.67%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.31 PKR 363

-6.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$3.95 PKR 1,097

52.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$3.02 PKR 837

11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$3.74 PKR 1,037

19.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.52 PKR 144

92.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.51 PKR 142

64.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.65 PKR 181

43.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.50 PKR 140

14.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 96.3

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.64 PKR 178

-9.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.33 PKR 92.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.47 PKR 132

-21.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.43 PKR 397

32.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.92 PKR 254

-7.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$2.04 PKR 567

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.97 PKR 547

6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.20 PKR 55.5

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$7.24 PKR 2,008

-0.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.90 PKR 250

-6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 PKR 119

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.82 PKR 504

57.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.90 PKR 248

3.33%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-0.92%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

17.03%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$101 PKR 28.0K

11.89%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$1.89 PKR 526

185.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$13.94 PKR 3,870

33.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.50 PKR 3,468

82.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$6.10 PKR 1,693

-1.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.62 PKR 1,005

20.17%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$13.89 PKR 3,855

335.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

148.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$15.08 PKR 4,185

40.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$22.07 PKR 6,126

27.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

30.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$28.80 PKR 7,993

39.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

163.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

108.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$167 PKR 46.3K

207.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$107 PKR 29.8K

178.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$892 PKR 247.5K

75.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$480 PKR 133.3K

34.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

$179 PKR 49.8K

115.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $74.9 in Gilgit. 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 116% higher in Islamabad, 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $82.0 – 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

Islamabad vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 38% 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 $798 per month in Islamabad and $577 in Gilgit. 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 21% more in Islamabad, 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 $14.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Gilgit. 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 $532 in Islamabad and $385 in Gilgit, 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, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.