Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Gilgit Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Gilgit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $503 per month in Rawalpindi vs $431 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $776 per month in Rawalpindi vs $649 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Rawalpindi vs $867 in Gilgit, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 17% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 64% lower, Gilgit 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$1.51 PKR 419

38.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 PKR 4,548

$10.97 PKR 3,039

49.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 PKR 1,611

$5.55 PKR 1,536

4.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 PKR 511

$2.57 PKR 713

-28.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 963

$5.35 PKR 1,483

-34.95%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PKR 532

$1.47 PKR 407

30.61%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.35 PKR 97.2

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.24 PKR 66.7

4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.87 PKR 241

-1.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.63 PKR 175

-6.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.16 PKR 322

3.45%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.20 PKR 331

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.21 PKR 1,721

$6.05 PKR 1,677

2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 PKR 962

$2.52 PKR 699

37.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 PKR 1,436

$4.96 PKR 1,374

4.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 329

$1.12 PKR 309

6.25%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.59 PKR 163

44.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$0.78 PKR 216

62.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.52 PKR 143

9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.29 PKR 79.9

31.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.35 PKR 97.0

40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.33 PKR 92.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.37 PKR 103

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.90 PKR 4,406

$1.78 PKR 492

793.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.09 PKR 303

8.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PKR 677

$2.47 PKR 685

-1.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.12 PKR 587

-8.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.2

$0.17 PKR 46.21

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.07 PKR 2,789

$9.65 PKR 2,672

4.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.10 PKR 305

-14.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 93.9

$0.68 PKR 190

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 PKR 869

$1.65 PKR 458

90.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.11 PKR 309

5.41%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-18.41%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

-4.08%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$103 PKR 28.6K

8.78%

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

$5.76 PKR 1,594

$2.12 PKR 587

171.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.29 PKR 5,067

$14.45 PKR 4,002

26.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.83 PKR 3,278

$14.87 PKR 4,119

-20.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.79 PKR 1,881

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$4.41 PKR 1,223

-2.49%

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

$48.80 PKR 13.5K

$14.58 PKR 4,038

234.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$852 PKR 235.9K

$1,012 PKR 280.2K

-15.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.89 PKR 5,787

$14.96 PKR 4,146

39.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.53 PKR 7,903

$22.53 PKR 6,241

26.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

29.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.66 PKR 9,879

$29.82 PKR 8,262

19.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.7K

$124 PKR 34.4K

61.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.3 PKR 22.8K

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

5.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 PKR 119.1K

$248 PKR 68.7K

73.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$150 PKR 41.6K

50.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 PKR 318.2K

$896 PKR 248.2K

28.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$517 PKR 143.2K

$511 PKR 141.6K

1.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$177 PKR 49.1K

-2.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.88

77.10%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Rawalpindi versus $124 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $92.0 – 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

Rawalpindi vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 17% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $755 per month in Rawalpindi and $646 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 12% more in Rawalpindi, 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi 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 $503 in Rawalpindi and $431 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, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.