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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $537 per month in Islamabad vs $388 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Islamabad vs $582 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Islamabad vs $776 in Gilgit, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 38% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 769

$1.75 PKR 486

57.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 PKR 3,980

$10.40 PKR 2,892

37.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,454

$4.05 PKR 1,125

29.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PKR 1,096

$3.46 PKR 962

13.87%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.49 PKR 414

39.60%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.32 PKR 87.9

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.21 PKR 58.4

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.73 PKR 202

36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.60 PKR 167

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.19 PKR 331

5.88%

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.28 PKR 356

-1.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,747

$3.79 PKR 1,054

65.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.00 PKR 834

13.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.58 PKR 995

21.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.51 PKR 142

101.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.52 PKR 143

61.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.61 PKR 170

47.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.56 PKR 154

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 96.0

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.60 PKR 165

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.31 PKR 85.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.48 PKR 134

-14.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.59 PKR 441

25.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.87 PKR 240

6.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 545

$2.03 PKR 565

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.93 PKR 536

6.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.81

$0.17 PKR 47.02

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,960

$6.88 PKR 1,912

2.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.85 PKR 237

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.40 PKR 113

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 PKR 793

$1.81 PKR 504

57.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.96 PKR 268

2.08%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-2.43%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

12.63%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$100.0 PKR 27.8K

12.33%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$1.92 PKR 533

179.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,152

$13.97 PKR 3,883

32.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.84 PKR 6,351

$12.25 PKR 3,406

86.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 PKR 1,670

$5.98 PKR 1,664

0.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$3.47 PKR 964

20.17%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

$14.30 PKR 3,976

314.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

$1,101 PKR 306.1K

155.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.16 PKR 5,883

$15.22 PKR 4,232

39.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 PKR 7,827

$22.52 PKR 6,260

25.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

31.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

$29.00 PKR 8,062

36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

157.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

117.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.1K

$167 PKR 46.5K

207.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$104 PKR 29.0K

185.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

$859 PKR 238.8K

76.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 PKR 177.2K

$480 PKR 133.4K

32.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

$183 PKR 50.9K

108.63%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $76.4 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 109% 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 $10.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 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 38% 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 $805 per month in Islamabad and $582 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 25% 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 $10.00 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 $537 in Islamabad and $388 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.