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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $518 per month in Lahore vs $432 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $782 per month in Lahore vs $644 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,046 per month in Lahore vs $855 in Gilgit, rent included.

Lahore costs about 20% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lahore and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Lahore 62% lower, Gilgit 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 PKR 705

$1.56 PKR 432

62.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 PKR 4,039

$10.99 PKR 3,043

32.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 PKR 1,552

$5.41 PKR 1,500

3.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 PKR 1,006

$2.51 PKR 695

44.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$4.92 PKR 1,362

11.99%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 702

$1.40 PKR 389

80.71%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.36 PKR 98.7

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.19 PKR 53.8

26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.83 PKR 230

12.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.64 PKR 177

10.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.22 PKR 339

-4.10%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.18 PKR 326

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,756

$5.97 PKR 1,655

6.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 PKR 722

$2.56 PKR 709

1.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 PKR 1,333

$5.01 PKR 1,387

-3.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.09 PKR 302

11.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.60 PKR 165

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.73 PKR 201

24.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.50 PKR 138

32.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.29 PKR 81.3

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.33 PKR 92.0

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.35 PKR 95.9

31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.34 PKR 95.4

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.57 PKR 434

-30.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.10 PKR 306

-45.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$2.51 PKR 695

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 584

$2.28 PKR 631

-7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.17 PKR 46.51

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.43 PKR 1,503

$10.15 PKR 2,812

-46.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.09 PKR 302

-18.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.70 PKR 195

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.60 PKR 442

15.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.17 PKR 324

12.82%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-16.38%

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

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

15.85%

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

$128 PKR 35.5K

$101 PKR 27.9K

27.10%

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

$5.32 PKR 1,474

$2.14 PKR 593

148.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.62 PKR 4,603

$14.62 PKR 4,051

13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.06 PKR 5,833

$14.92 PKR 4,134

41.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,982

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,172

$4.82 PKR 1,336

-12.24%

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

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

$14.24 PKR 3,946

216.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 PKR 550.8K

$923 PKR 255.6K

115.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,794

$15.33 PKR 4,247

12.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 PKR 7,601

$22.50 PKR 6,233

21.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

$67.5 PKR 18.7K

13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.91 PKR 8,840

$29.02 PKR 8,040

9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 45.0K

$128 PKR 35.5K

26.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

$77.9 PKR 21.6K

7.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 PKR 94.4K

$255 PKR 70.6K

33.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 PKR 56.1K

$151 PKR 41.9K

33.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 PKR 224.3K

$896 PKR 248.3K

-9.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.5K

$519 PKR 143.7K

15.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$179 PKR 49.6K

6.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

12.88

10.87%

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

Last update for Lahore: September 15, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $162 in Lahore versus $128 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 Lahore, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Lahore versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $91.0 – 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 20% 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 $777 per month in Lahore and $647 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 6% 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 $15.00 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 $518 in Lahore and $432 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.