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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $312 per month in Abbottabad vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $495 per month in Abbottabad vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $677 per month in Abbottabad vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

Abbottabad is about 47% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Abbottabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Abbottabad 77% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 PKR 511

$3.56 PKR 985

-48.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.79 PKR 2,988

$23.22 PKR 6,430

-53.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,472

$5.44 PKR 1,507

-2.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 982

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-4.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 PKR 496

$6.73 PKR 1,865

-73.40%

Cappuccino

$1.24 PKR 343

$2.51 PKR 694

-50.60%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.3

$0.33 PKR 90.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 221

$0.94 PKR 261

-14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.75 PKR 209

-1.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 342

$1.25 PKR 347

-0.80%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.21 PKR 335

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,008

$6.06 PKR 1,679

-39.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.31 PKR 640

$3.20 PKR 886

-27.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.39 PKR 1,494

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.25 PKR 346

-16.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.81 PKR 224

6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 240

$1.03 PKR 286

-15.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.52 PKR 145

-15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.26 PKR 71.2

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.8

$0.33 PKR 90.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.0

$0.30 PKR 83.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.6

$0.42 PKR 118

-23.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.97 PKR 546

$2.01 PKR 556

-1.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.24 PKR 343

-4.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 717

$2.59 PKR 718

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.71 PKR 473

$2.32 PKR 641

-26.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.20 PKR 55.7

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.29 PKR 358

-1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$0.74 PKR 205

-54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 PKR 443

$1.61 PKR 445

-0.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.25 PKR 348

-12.80%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-60.49%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-0.03%

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

$54.6 PKR 15.1K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-47.72%

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

$3.58 PKR 992

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-39.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.54 PKR 3,473

$16.18 PKR 4,480

-22.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.36 PKR 3,701

$28.70 PKR 7,950

-53.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.67 PKR 1,016

$8.46 PKR 2,344

-56.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 PKR 1,227

$4.37 PKR 1,210

1.37%

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

$27.51 PKR 7,618

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-63.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$522 PKR 144.6K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-89.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.05 PKR 2,507

$25.08 PKR 6,946

-63.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.19 PKR 1,992

$35.11 PKR 9,725

-79.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 PKR 26.6K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.96 PKR 3,037

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-72.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$35.60 PKR 9,860

$278 PKR 77.0K

-87.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$22.01 PKR 6,097

$138 PKR 38.3K

-84.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.4K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-81.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$277 PKR 76.7K

-80.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 PKR 54.0K

$379 PKR 104.9K

-48.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Abbottabad: September 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $35.60 in Abbottabad versus $278 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 94% 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 $11.00 in Abbottabad versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $103 – 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 90% 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 $469 per month in Abbottabad and $890 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Abbottabad and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $312 in Abbottabad and $593 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.