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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $476 per month in Karachi vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $732 per month in Karachi vs $583 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $988 per month in Karachi vs $780 in Gilgit, rent included.

Karachi costs about 24% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karachi and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 587

$1.81 PKR 505

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$10.79 PKR 3,008

12.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$4.14 PKR 1,155

1.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$1.81 PKR 503

6.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$3.62 PKR 1,008

48.34%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.43 PKR 400

26.57%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.32 PKR 88.8

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.23 PKR 64.4

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.72 PKR 200

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.59 PKR 165

-8.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.15 PKR 321

-1.74%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.24 PKR 346

-6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$3.95 PKR 1,100

61.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$3.00 PKR 837

6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$3.61 PKR 1,006

42.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$0.51 PKR 143

105.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.51 PKR 142

13.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.65 PKR 181

44.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.52 PKR 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 97.2

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.60 PKR 169

-21.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.33 PKR 92.3

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.47 PKR 132

-8.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$1.23 PKR 344

14.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.92 PKR 257

41.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.99 PKR 553

3.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$1.91 PKR 532

14.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.20 PKR 57.0

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$6.89 PKR 1,920

-5.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.86 PKR 240

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.44 PKR 122

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.74 PKR 484

1.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.97 PKR 270

-3.09%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-23.71%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

8.18%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$103 PKR 28.7K

33.36%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$1.93 PKR 538

158.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$13.63 PKR 3,799

-0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.33 PKR 3,438

28.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$5.97 PKR 1,663

139.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$3.62 PKR 1,009

18.51%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$14.35 PKR 4,001

309.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,116 PKR 311.2K

23.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$14.95 PKR 4,168

19.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$22.52 PKR 6,277

14.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

-5.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$29.02 PKR 8,091

25.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

58.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

43.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$169 PKR 47.2K

89.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$104 PKR 29.0K

75.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

$813 PKR 226.7K

-7.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

$584 PKR 162.8K

-20.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$179 PKR 50.0K

-6.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-6.32%

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

Last update for Karachi: April 28, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $120 in Karachi 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 7% 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 $12.00 in Karachi versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 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

Karachi vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 24% 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 $714 per month in Karachi 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 21% 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 $12.00 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 $476 in Karachi 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, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.