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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $482 per month in Karachi vs $388 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $737 per month in Karachi vs $582 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $992 per month in Karachi vs $776 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

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.75 PKR 486

18.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,458

$10.40 PKR 2,891

19.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PKR 1,130

$4.05 PKR 1,125

0.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.75 PKR 488

14.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

$3.46 PKR 962

56.65%

Cappuccino

$1.88 PKR 524

$1.49 PKR 414

26.17%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.32 PKR 87.9

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.21 PKR 58.4

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 223

$0.73 PKR 202

9.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.60 PKR 167

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.19 PKR 331

-5.88%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.28 PKR 356

-7.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.61 PKR 1,838

$3.79 PKR 1,054

74.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 886

$3.00 PKR 834

6.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 PKR 1,408

$3.58 PKR 995

41.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.51 PKR 142

105.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.52 PKR 143

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.61 PKR 170

45.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 154

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.6

$0.35 PKR 96.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.60 PKR 165

-21.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.31 PKR 85.1

12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.48 PKR 134

-14.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

$1.59 PKR 441

-20.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.87 PKR 240

51.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$2.03 PKR 565

0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 586

$1.93 PKR 536

9.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.17 PKR 47.01

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 PKR 1,733

$6.88 PKR 1,912

-9.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.85 PKR 237

-14.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.40 PKR 113

52.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.81 PKR 504

-3.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.96 PKR 267

-8.33%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-22.26%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

6.38%

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

$133 PKR 36.9K

$100.0 PKR 27.8K

32.88%

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

$5.11 PKR 1,419

$1.92 PKR 533

166.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.67 PKR 3,800

$13.97 PKR 3,883

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.52 PKR 4,314

$12.25 PKR 3,405

26.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 PKR 4,017

$5.98 PKR 1,663

141.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.47 PKR 964

21.33%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$14.30 PKR 3,975

305.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,384 PKR 384.7K

$1,101 PKR 306.0K

25.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 PKR 4,859

$15.22 PKR 4,231

14.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.97 PKR 6,942

$22.52 PKR 6,259

10.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

-5.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

$29.00 PKR 8,061

24.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 PKR 32.6K

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

53.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

43.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 PKR 86.7K

$167 PKR 46.5K

86.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.5K

$104 PKR 29.0K

74.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$929 PKR 258.1K

$859 PKR 238.8K

8.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$437 PKR 121.4K

$480 PKR 133.4K

-9.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.9K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-3.97%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Karachi 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 4% 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 $10.00 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 $723 per month in Karachi 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 20% 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 $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 $482 in Karachi 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, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.