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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $480 per month in Lahore vs $388 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $726 per month in Lahore vs $582 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $972 per month in Lahore vs $776 in Gilgit, rent included.

Lahore costs about 24% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 PKR 602

$1.75 PKR 486

24.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.93 PKR 3,872

$10.40 PKR 2,892

33.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 PKR 1,152

$4.05 PKR 1,125

2.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 764

$1.75 PKR 488

57.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 PKR 1,039

$3.46 PKR 962

8.09%

Cappuccino

$2.28 PKR 635

$1.49 PKR 414

53.02%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.3

$0.32 PKR 87.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.21 PKR 58.4

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.73 PKR 202

21.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 167

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.19 PKR 331

0.84%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.28 PKR 356

-5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 PKR 1,659

$3.79 PKR 1,054

57.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 840

$3.00 PKR 834

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.49 PKR 1,249

$3.58 PKR 995

25.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$0.51 PKR 142

109.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.52 PKR 143

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.56 PKR 154

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.35 PKR 96.0

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.60 PKR 165

-18.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.31 PKR 85.1

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.48 PKR 134

-18.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 260

$1.59 PKR 441

-41.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.87 PKR 240

-40.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 311

$2.03 PKR 565

-44.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 PKR 558

$1.93 PKR 536

4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.53

$0.17 PKR 47.02

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,921

$6.88 PKR 1,912

0.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.85 PKR 237

-15.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.40 PKR 113

32.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 486

$1.81 PKR 504

-3.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.96 PKR 268

-7.29%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-18.34%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

0.00%

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

$140 PKR 38.8K

$100.0 PKR 27.8K

39.61%

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

$5.38 PKR 1,495

$1.92 PKR 533

180.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.98 PKR 4,721

$13.97 PKR 3,883

21.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.36 PKR 3,714

$12.25 PKR 3,406

9.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 PKR 1,606

$5.98 PKR 1,664

-3.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,165

$3.47 PKR 964

20.75%

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

$35.59 PKR 9,894

$14.30 PKR 3,976

148.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,251 PKR 347.9K

$1,101 PKR 306.1K

13.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.09 PKR 4,194

$15.22 PKR 4,232

-0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.28 PKR 6,471

$22.52 PKR 6,260

3.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 PKR 20.4K

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

6.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.70 PKR 8,535

$29.00 PKR 8,062

5.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

51.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

47.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$167 PKR 46.5K

73.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 PKR 53.0K

$104 PKR 29.0K

82.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$819 PKR 227.7K

$859 PKR 238.8K

-4.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$607 PKR 168.7K

$480 PKR 133.4K

26.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 50.0K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-1.74%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Lahore 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 2% 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 $10.00 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 24% 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 $720 per month in Lahore 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 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 $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 $480 in Lahore 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, Lahore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.