Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $310 per month in Abbottabad vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $480 per month in Abbottabad vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $651 per month in Abbottabad vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Abbottabad is about 43% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Abbottabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Abbottabad 77% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 PKR 479

$2.87 PKR 802

-40.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 PKR 3,439

$14.22 PKR 3,968

-13.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 PKR 1,449

$5.23 PKR 1,461

-0.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 PKR 486

$3.82 PKR 1,067

-54.45%

Cappuccino

$1.39 PKR 388

$2.05 PKR 573

-32.20%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.22 PKR 61.3

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 214

$0.96 PKR 267

-19.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.61 PKR 171

8.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.27 PKR 356

-9.45%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 341

$1.21 PKR 337

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 PKR 964

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-44.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.31 PKR 645

$3.49 PKR 975

-33.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.33 PKR 1,209

$4.39 PKR 1,226

-1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 236

$1.03 PKR 289

-18.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.82 PKR 230

-10.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.94 PKR 264

-18.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.56 PKR 155

-10.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.4

$0.38 PKR 106

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.53 PKR 147

-1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.7

$0.33 PKR 92.7

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 44.06

$0.37 PKR 104

-56.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 555

$1.96 PKR 548

1.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 241

$0.92 PKR 256

-6.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.98 PKR 553

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 PKR 483

$2.07 PKR 578

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.17 PKR 46.63

52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.03 PKR 1,962

$6.98 PKR 1,948

0.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.92 PKR 256

-5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 PKR 774

$2.75 PKR 768

0.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 250

$0.98 PKR 274

-9.18%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-1.39%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

0.82%

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

$43.79 PKR 12.2K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-60.71%

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

$2.95 PKR 823

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-46.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.35 PKR 5,122

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.88 PKR 4,990

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-19.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.44 PKR 959

$5.85 PKR 1,632

-41.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.27 PKR 1,193

$4.14 PKR 1,155

3.14%

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

$34.83 PKR 9,721

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-42.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$524 PKR 146.3K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-81.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.80 PKR 2,455

$21.34 PKR 5,955

-58.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.18 PKR 2,005

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-74.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.54 PKR 3,501

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-69.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$35.46 PKR 9,898

$200 PKR 55.8K

-82.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$21.61 PKR 6,031

$111 PKR 31.1K

-80.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.8K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-67.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.10 PKR 11.8K

$288 PKR 80.5K

-85.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 PKR 64.1K

$307 PKR 85.8K

-25.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Abbottabad: April 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $35.46 in Abbottabad versus $200 in Islamabad. 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 34% higher in Islamabad, 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 $12.00 in Abbottabad versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $78.0 vs $99.0 – making Abbottabad 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

Abbottabad vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 75% more than Abbottabad, 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 $464 per month in Abbottabad and $814 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $34.83 per month in Abbottabad and $60.9 in Islamabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $310 in Abbottabad and $543 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – 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 Abbottabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.