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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $583 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $780 in Gilgit, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 41% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.81 PKR 505

58.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$10.79 PKR 3,008

31.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$4.14 PKR 1,155

26.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.81 PKR 503

-3.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$3.62 PKR 1,008

5.52%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.43 PKR 400

43.36%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.32 PKR 88.8

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.23 PKR 64.4

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.72 PKR 200

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.59 PKR 165

3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.15 PKR 321

10.43%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.24 PKR 346

-2.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$3.95 PKR 1,100

56.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$3.00 PKR 837

16.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$3.61 PKR 1,006

21.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.51 PKR 143

101.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.51 PKR 142

60.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.65 PKR 181

44.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.52 PKR 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.35 PKR 97.2

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.60 PKR 169

-11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.33 PKR 92.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.47 PKR 132

-21.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.23 PKR 344

59.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.92 PKR 257

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.99 PKR 553

-0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.91 PKR 532

8.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.20 PKR 57.0

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$6.89 PKR 1,920

1.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.86 PKR 240

6.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 PKR 122

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.74 PKR 484

58.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-0.63%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

13.04%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$103 PKR 28.7K

8.22%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$1.93 PKR 538

186.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$13.63 PKR 3,799

36.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.33 PKR 3,438

80.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.97 PKR 1,663

-2.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$3.62 PKR 1,009

14.36%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$14.35 PKR 4,001

324.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,116 PKR 311.2K

149.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$14.95 PKR 4,168

42.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$22.52 PKR 6,277

25.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

30.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$29.02 PKR 8,091

40.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

163.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

113.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$169 PKR 47.2K

202.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$104 PKR 29.0K

176.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$813 PKR 226.7K

87.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$584 PKR 162.8K

26.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$179 PKR 50.0K

71.20%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $75.9 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 71% 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 $80.0 – 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 41% 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $578 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 24% 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 $543 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.