Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Gilgit

For one person, living is cheaper in Gilgit: $447 a month against $510 in Lahore, rent and utilities included – about $760 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lahore, Pakistan
Gilgit, Pakistan
Lahore
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$510
/mo nomad
Gilgit
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$447
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lahore and in Gilgit

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lahore and in Gilgit actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $510 per month in Lahore vs $447 in Gilgit, rent included.

  • Lahore $510
  • Gilgit $447

A couple spends around $777 per month in Lahore vs $670 in Gilgit, rent included.

  • Lahore $777
  • Gilgit $670

A family of three spends $1,045 per month in Lahore vs $894 in Gilgit, rent included.

  • Lahore $1,045
  • Gilgit $894

Lahore costs about 14% more than Gilgit, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lahore and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Lahore 62% lower, Gilgit 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 PKR 688
$1.49 PKR 411
67.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.33 PKR 4,241
$10.71 PKR 2,962
43.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.75 PKR 1,590
$5.32 PKR 1,473
8.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 PKR 1,025
$2.50 PKR 690
48.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 PKR 1,527
$5.09 PKR 1,407
8.45%
Cappuccino
$2.53 PKR 699
$1.59 PKR 441
59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 104
$0.32 PKR 88.2
18.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 PKR 72.4
$0.23 PKR 62.7
13.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 250
$0.81 PKR 223
12.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 PKR 206
$0.62 PKR 172
20.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 PKR 328
$1.13 PKR 312
5.31%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 333
$1.15 PKR 317
4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.99 PKR 1,657
$5.63 PKR 1,557
6.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.57 PKR 710
$2.46 PKR 681
4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.85 PKR 1,343
$4.84 PKR 1,339
0.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 333
$1.12 PKR 309
7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 PKR 186
$0.58 PKR 160
15.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 PKR 231
$0.78 PKR 216
6.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 PKR 185
$0.52 PKR 143
28.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 82.7
$0.28 PKR 77.3
7.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 97.3
$0.38 PKR 106
-7.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 PKR 124
$0.43 PKR 119
4.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.38 PKR 104
-2.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.06 PKR 294
$1.89 PKR 522
-43.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 PKR 170
$1.09 PKR 303
-44.04%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 PKR 479
$2.44 PKR 674
-29.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 PKR 585
$1.97 PKR 545
7.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.8
$0.16 PKR 43.69
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.15 PKR 1,700
$10.05 PKR 2,781
-38.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 PKR 244
$1.07 PKR 295
-17.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 PKR 203
$0.71 PKR 196
2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 PKR 492
$1.62 PKR 448
9.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 PKR 384
$1.17 PKR 325
18.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K PKR 4.9M
$22.0K PKR 6.1M
-18.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K PKR 6.9M
$23.2K PKR 6.4M
6.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 PKR 33.1K
$101 PKR 27.8K
19.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.53 PKR 1,529
$5.66 PKR 1,567
-2.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.47 PKR 4,557
$14.23 PKR 3,936
15.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.27 PKR 6,159
$14.85 PKR 4,107
49.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.64 PKR 2,943
$7.85 PKR 2,173
35.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.58 PKR 1,268
$4.25 PKR 1,176
7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.4 PKR 27.5K
$42.28 PKR 11.7K
135.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,418 PKR 1.5M
$1,047 PKR 289.7K
417.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.55 PKR 4,854
$16.72 PKR 4,625
4.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.79 PKR 6,580
$22.58 PKR 6,246
5.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 PKR 20.1K
$67.5 PKR 18.7K
7.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.32 PKR 8,386
$32.35 PKR 8,948
-6.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 PKR 47.8K
$134 PKR 37.2K
28.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$94.5 PKR 26.1K
$86.0 PKR 23.8K
9.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 PKR 95.3K
$272 PKR 75.2K
26.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 PKR 57.9K
$178 PKR 49.2K
17.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$818 PKR 226.4K
$810 PKR 224.2K
0.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$585 PKR 161.8K
$499 PKR 138.0K
17.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Gilgit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$193 PKR 53.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.94
13
7.23%

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

Last update for Lahore: November 2, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
$142
Gilgit
$120 15% $21
Groceries & Markets
Lahore
$96
Gilgit
$90 6.6% $6.3
Accommodation & Living
Lahore
$94
Gilgit
$86 9% $8.5
Eating Out
Lahore
$70
Gilgit
$49 29.8% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
$65
Gilgit
$63 3.6% $2.3
Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
$31
Gilgit
$23 25.7% $8.1
Getting Around
Lahore
$11
Gilgit
$15 33.8% $3.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $173 in Lahore versus $134 in Gilgit. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Lahore versus $11 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96 vs $90 – making Gilgit the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Lahore
🇵🇰 Gilgit
🕒 Local time
00:46 12:46 AM
00:46 12:46 AM
Same time as Lahore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,126,285
216,760
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lahore Gilgit 480 km
From you
  • Lahore
  • Gilgit

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Lahore or Gilgit?
Lahore costs about 14% more than Gilgit, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lahore and in Gilgit?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $765 per month in Lahore and $670 in Gilgit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lahore or Gilgit?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilgit, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $134 there versus $173 in Lahore.
Are groceries more expensive in Lahore or in Gilgit?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Lahore, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Lahore and in Gilgit?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Lahore and $11 in Gilgit. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Lahore or in Gilgit?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $510 in Lahore and $447 in Gilgit, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.

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