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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $427 per month in Rawalpindi vs $387 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $579 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $902 per month in Rawalpindi vs $772 in Gilgit, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 11% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.79 PKR 499

-2.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.18 PKR 3,942

$10.46 PKR 2,907

35.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 PKR 1,441

$4.00 PKR 1,113

29.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 435

$1.81 PKR 503

-13.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 951

$3.64 PKR 1,011

-6.04%

Cappuccino

$1.67 PKR 464

$1.44 PKR 399

15.97%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.4

$0.34 PKR 94.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.23 PKR 64.1

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 221

$0.76 PKR 210

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.60 PKR 167

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.16 PKR 324

11.21%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.29 PKR 360

-9.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 PKR 1,690

$3.85 PKR 1,069

57.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 PKR 926

$3.01 PKR 838

10.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 PKR 1,256

$3.65 PKR 1,015

23.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.54 PKR 151

83.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.56 PKR 155

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.67 PKR 187

37.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.50 PKR 140

2.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.35 PKR 97.0

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.64 PKR 177

-23.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.33 PKR 92.3

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.48 PKR 132

-16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.38 PKR 4,554

$1.44 PKR 400

1037.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 285

$0.92 PKR 257

10.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 635

$1.95 PKR 542

16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 530

$2.01 PKR 558

-5.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.9

$0.16 PKR 45.79

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,646

$7.24 PKR 2,014

31.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.90 PKR 250

-6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.41 PKR 113

-19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 854

$1.76 PKR 488

74.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.91 PKR 253

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

$17.4K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-19.28%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

0.87%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

-0.11%

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

$4.12 PKR 1,146

$2.00 PKR 556

106.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.38 PKR 4,555

$13.52 PKR 3,760

21.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.15 PKR 2,821

$12.50 PKR 3,476

-18.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.73 PKR 2,150

$5.95 PKR 1,655

29.92%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,005

$3.47 PKR 965

4.03%

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

$40.70 PKR 11.3K

$14.30 PKR 3,976

184.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$965 PKR 268.4K

$1,119 PKR 311.1K

-13.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.77 PKR 3,273

$14.99 PKR 4,168

-21.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.65 PKR 5,184

$22.42 PKR 6,232

-16.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PKR 25.0K

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

30.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.17 PKR 7,832

$29.14 PKR 8,101

-3.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 37.0K

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

74.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

24.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 PKR 92.6K

$169 PKR 47.1K

96.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.9K

$105 PKR 29.2K

64.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 PKR 314.2K

$898 PKR 249.6K

25.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 142.1K

$481 PKR 133.8K

6.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.2K

$182 PKR 50.7K

-4.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

6.16%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $76.2 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 5% 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 Rawalpindi versus $10.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 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

Rawalpindi vs Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 11% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $641 per month in Rawalpindi and $580 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 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi 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 $427 in Rawalpindi and $387 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.