Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Gilgit Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Gilgit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $497 per month in Lahore vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $750 per month in Lahore vs $583 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,003 per month in Lahore vs $780 in Gilgit, rent included.

Lahore costs about 29% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lahore and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Lahore 63% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 587

$1.81 PKR 505

16.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,888

$10.79 PKR 3,008

29.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.30 PKR 1,198

$4.14 PKR 1,155

3.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 PKR 795

$1.81 PKR 503

57.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 PKR 1,049

$3.62 PKR 1,008

3.87%

Cappuccino

$2.37 PKR 660

$1.43 PKR 400

65.73%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.7

$0.32 PKR 88.8

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.23 PKR 64.4

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.72 PKR 200

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.59 PKR 165

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.15 PKR 321

4.35%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.24 PKR 346

-6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.87 PKR 1,638

$3.95 PKR 1,100

48.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.04 PKR 848

$3.00 PKR 837

1.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.61 PKR 1,284

$3.61 PKR 1,006

27.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 296

$0.51 PKR 143

107.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.51 PKR 142

27.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.65 PKR 181

-10.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.52 PKR 144

-13.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.35 PKR 97.2

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.60 PKR 169

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.33 PKR 92.3

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.47 PKR 132

-25.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.71 PKR 197

$1.23 PKR 344

-42.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.92 PKR 257

-39.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.99 PKR 553

-45.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 550

$1.91 PKR 532

3.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.16

$0.20 PKR 57.0

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.94 PKR 1,936

$6.89 PKR 1,920

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.86 PKR 240

-16.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.44 PKR 122

11.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 499

$1.74 PKR 484

2.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 252

$0.97 PKR 270

-7.22%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-18.39%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-0.67%

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

$138 PKR 38.5K

$103 PKR 28.7K

34.11%

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

$5.46 PKR 1,521

$1.93 PKR 538

182.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,832

$13.63 PKR 3,799

27.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.41 PKR 3,737

$12.33 PKR 3,438

8.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 PKR 1,618

$5.97 PKR 1,663

-2.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,179

$3.62 PKR 1,009

16.85%

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

$35.14 PKR 9,796

$14.35 PKR 4,001

144.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,221 PKR 340.3K

$1,116 PKR 311.2K

9.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.11 PKR 4,212

$14.95 PKR 4,168

1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.95 PKR 6,397

$22.52 PKR 6,277

1.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 PKR 20.5K

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.90 PKR 8,334

$29.02 PKR 8,091

3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

55.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

46.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 PKR 79.2K

$169 PKR 47.2K

67.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.5K

$104 PKR 29.0K

80.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$812 PKR 226.3K

$813 PKR 226.7K

-0.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$607 PKR 169.1K

$584 PKR 162.8K

3.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.9K

$179 PKR 50.0K

-0.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

4.63%

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

Last update for Lahore: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Lahore 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 0% 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 $14.00 in Lahore versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 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

Lahore vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore costs about 29% 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 $745 per month in Lahore 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 16% more in Lahore, 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 Lahore 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 $497 in Lahore 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, Lahore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.