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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $432 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $644 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $855 in Gilgit, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 37% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Gilgit 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.56 PKR 432

128.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$10.99 PKR 3,043

111.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.41 PKR 1,500

0.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.51 PKR 695

47.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$4.92 PKR 1,362

36.79%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.40 PKR 389

79.29%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.36 PKR 98.7

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.19 PKR 53.8

10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.83 PKR 230

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.64 PKR 177

17.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.18 PKR 326

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$5.97 PKR 1,655

1.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.56 PKR 709

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$5.01 PKR 1,387

8.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.09 PKR 302

14.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.60 PKR 165

35.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.73 PKR 201

41.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.50 PKR 138

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.29 PKR 81.3

-10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.33 PKR 92.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.35 PKR 95.9

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 95.4

23.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.57 PKR 434

28.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.10 PKR 306

12.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$2.51 PKR 695

3.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.28 PKR 631

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.17 PKR 46.51

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$10.15 PKR 2,812

115.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.09 PKR 302

18.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.70 PKR 195

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.60 PKR 442

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.17 PKR 324

6.84%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

151.98%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

6.59%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$101 PKR 27.9K

3.55%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$2.14 PKR 593

174.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$14.62 PKR 4,051

10.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$14.92 PKR 4,134

92.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.82 PKR 1,336

-9.34%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$14.24 PKR 3,946

426.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$923 PKR 255.6K

450.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$15.33 PKR 4,247

63.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$22.50 PKR 6,233

56.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$67.5 PKR 18.7K

44.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$29.02 PKR 8,040

37.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$128 PKR 35.5K

116.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$77.9 PKR 21.6K

77.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$255 PKR 70.6K

131.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$151 PKR 41.9K

83.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$896 PKR 248.3K

81.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$519 PKR 143.7K

57.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$179 PKR 49.6K

111.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $128 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 111% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $91.0 – 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 37% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $890 per month in Islamabad and $647 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 13% 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 $23.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $432 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.