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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Rawalpindi vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $581 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $899 per month in Rawalpindi vs $778 in Gilgit, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 12% 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

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.78 PKR 495

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,960

$10.62 PKR 2,948

34.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$4.13 PKR 1,146

27.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

$1.80 PKR 500

-11.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

$3.63 PKR 1,007

-5.79%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.51 PKR 418

9.93%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.34 PKR 95.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.77 PKR 215

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.60 PKR 167

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.20 PKR 333

8.33%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.31 PKR 363

-12.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$3.95 PKR 1,097

51.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$3.02 PKR 837

7.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

$3.74 PKR 1,037

19.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.52 PKR 144

96.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.51 PKR 142

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.65 PKR 181

29.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.50 PKR 140

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.35 PKR 96.3

5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.64 PKR 178

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.33 PKR 92.8

-21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.47 PKR 132

-14.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

$1.43 PKR 397

1016.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.92 PKR 254

10.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

$2.04 PKR 567

16.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.97 PKR 547

-2.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.20 PKR 55.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$7.24 PKR 2,008

32.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.90 PKR 250

-5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.43 PKR 119

-25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$1.82 PKR 504

69.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.90 PKR 249

5.56%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-17.73%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

1.76%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

-0.23%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$1.89 PKR 526

109.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$13.94 PKR 3,870

17.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,737

$12.50 PKR 3,468

-21.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$6.10 PKR 1,693

21.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$3.62 PKR 1,005

-1.38%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$13.89 PKR 3,855

194.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

-14.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$15.08 PKR 4,185

-22.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$22.07 PKR 6,127

-14.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

29.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$28.80 PKR 7,993

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

77.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

26.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$167 PKR 46.3K

100.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$107 PKR 29.8K

61.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

$892 PKR 247.5K

27.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$480 PKR 133.3K

6.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

$179 PKR 49.8K

-2.11%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi 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 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 Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 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 12% 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 $646 per month in Rawalpindi 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 14% 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 $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 $431 in Rawalpindi 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, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.