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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $491 per month in Lahore vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $733 per month in Lahore vs $581 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $974 per month in Lahore vs $778 in Gilgit, rent included.

Lahore costs about 28% 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

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.78 PKR 495

15.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.19 PKR 3,938

$10.62 PKR 2,948

33.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.30 PKR 1,193

$4.13 PKR 1,146

4.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 PKR 765

$1.80 PKR 500

53.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 PKR 1,012

$3.63 PKR 1,007

0.55%

Cappuccino

$2.28 PKR 632

$1.51 PKR 418

50.99%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.2

$0.34 PKR 95.6

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 63.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.77 PKR 215

12.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.60 PKR 167

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.20 PKR 333

1.67%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.31 PKR 363

-6.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,679

$3.95 PKR 1,097

53.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 PKR 824

$3.02 PKR 837

-1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 PKR 1,271

$3.74 PKR 1,037

22.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$0.52 PKR 144

105.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.51 PKR 142

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.65 PKR 181

-6.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.50 PKR 140

-6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.35 PKR 96.3

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.64 PKR 178

-23.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 92.8

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 99.1

$0.47 PKR 132

-23.40%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.43 PKR 397

-23.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.92 PKR 254

-40.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

$2.04 PKR 567

-48.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.97 PKR 547

1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.62

$0.20 PKR 55.5

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.25 PKR 2,011

$7.24 PKR 2,008

0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 201

$0.90 PKR 250

-18.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.43 PKR 119

13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.82 PKR 504

-1.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.90 PKR 248

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-16.02%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

3.15%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$101 PKR 28.0K

39.79%

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

$5.33 PKR 1,480

$1.89 PKR 526

182.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.36 PKR 4,819

$13.94 PKR 3,870

24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.27 PKR 3,683

$12.50 PKR 3,468

6.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 PKR 1,615

$6.10 PKR 1,693

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$3.62 PKR 1,005

18.23%

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

$35.23 PKR 9,779

$13.89 PKR 3,855

153.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

9.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.42 PKR 4,278

$15.08 PKR 4,185

2.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.35 PKR 6,481

$22.07 PKR 6,126

5.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

6.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.02 PKR 8,330

$28.80 PKR 7,993

4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$121 PKR 33.5K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

61.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

45.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$167 PKR 46.3K

74.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 PKR 52.0K

$107 PKR 29.8K

74.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 PKR 234.7K

$892 PKR 247.5K

-5.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$598 PKR 166.0K

$480 PKR 133.3K

24.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.1K

$179 PKR 49.8K

2.55%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $121 in Lahore versus $74.9 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 3% 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 $14.00 in Lahore versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 vs $82.0 – 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 28% 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 $737 per month in Lahore and $577 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 13% 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 $491 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.