Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Gilgit Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Gilgit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Karachi vs $441 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $720 per month in Karachi vs $647 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $988 per month in Karachi vs $853 in Gilgit, rent included.

Karachi costs about 2% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karachi and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 67% lower, Gilgit 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 PKR 511

$1.50 PKR 416

22.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.62 PKR 4,055

$10.94 PKR 3,034

33.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$5.57 PKR 1,546

-4.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 PKR 521

$2.57 PKR 713

-26.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 PKR 1,993

$4.49 PKR 1,246

60.13%

Cappuccino

$2.27 PKR 629

$1.57 PKR 434

44.59%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.5

$0.32 PKR 87.4

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.24 PKR 65.2

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 240

$0.82 PKR 226

6.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.63 PKR 175

-12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.21 PKR 335

0.83%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.23 PKR 342

-0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.82 PKR 1,613

4.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 847

$2.56 PKR 709

19.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 PKR 1,693

$4.93 PKR 1,368

23.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.18 PKR 327

3.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.64 PKR 178

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.88 PKR 244

18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.48 PKR 134

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.31 PKR 85.8

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.1

$0.36 PKR 101

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.28 PKR 76.4

39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.39 PKR 107

2.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

$2.01 PKR 556

-35.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 PKR 377

$1.14 PKR 316

19.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 PKR 681

$2.42 PKR 671

1.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 PKR 492

$2.03 PKR 562

-12.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.16 PKR 44.85

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.02 PKR 2,224

$9.09 PKR 2,520

-11.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 PKR 197

$1.07 PKR 296

-33.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.69 PKR 190

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 PKR 589

$1.84 PKR 509

15.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.12 PKR 312

13.39%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.8M

-15.26%

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

$27.5K PKR 7.6M

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

19.97%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-10.78%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,537

$2.05 PKR 568

170.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$16.40 PKR 4,548

-21.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.34 PKR 5,640

$15.28 PKR 4,236

33.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.36 PKR 5,091

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 PKR 1,195

$3.99 PKR 1,107

8.02%

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

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$14.36 PKR 3,981

318.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,292 PKR 358.4K

$1,068 PKR 296.2K

21.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.37 PKR 4,262

$15.65 PKR 4,339

-1.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.46 PKR 6,506

$22.81 PKR 6,325

2.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 PKR 17.6K

$65.7 PKR 18.2K

-3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.29 PKR 9,785

$33.75 PKR 9,359

4.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 PKR 31.6K

$121 PKR 33.7K

-6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.1 PKR 19.4K

$74.0 PKR 20.5K

-5.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.8K

$247 PKR 68.6K

17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 PKR 52.5K

$150 PKR 41.5K

26.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$997 PKR 276.3K

$911 PKR 252.6K

9.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$470 PKR 130.4K

$504 PKR 139.6K

-6.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.2K

$182 PKR 50.5K

-2.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.12

13.08

0.31%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 17, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Karachi versus $121 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 3% 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 $15.00 in Karachi versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $92.0 – 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

Karachi vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 2% 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 $677 per month in Karachi and $661 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 9% more in Karachi, 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 $15.00 in Karachi 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 $451 in Karachi and $441 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, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.